Master’s Thesis in Marine Vessel Control System
Are you interested in boating and want to join the fight against seasickness? Do you want to work with real-time adaptation and vessel control? Do you want to verify your work on a real boat?
Are you interested in boating and want to join the fight against seasickness? Do you want to work with control of real operating vessels and with real-time adaptation? Do you want to verify your work on a real boat? Are you and your friend seeking a master's thesis project at an innovative company starting in January 2026? Then this thesis project is for you!
Here’s an opportunity to collaborate with the brilliant team at Humphree (HUMPHREE | Innovation to the boating industry and Lightning by Humphree Official Movie 4k (youtube.com)). To modernize and improve our development process we wish to increase our use of adaptive-vessel models. Read below to learn more!
ABOUT THE PROJECT
Humphree is a pioneering marine technology company based in Gothenburg and is looking for a pair of master's students for a thesis project within control systems.
Suggested title: Parameter Estimation of Planing and Semi-Planing Marine Vessels under Colored Disturbances:
Background
Models of marine vessels serve various purposes, from simulation and offline control design to online prediction, fault detection and advance control algorithms. Adapting model parameters to individual boats allows for, among other things, higher control performance and a better estimation of the current performance.
Problem: Parameter estimation for marine vessels typically occurs in environments with significant external disturbances in the form of water waves. These disturbances are often colored, making unbiased parameter estimation challenging. For commercial applications, minimizing installation time may involve initially tuning the control system adequately and refining it during closed-loop estimation. Vessel dynamics are also influenced by water speed, potentially requiring consideration of parameter-varying aspects.
Scope
Develop a suitable linear model structure applicable to a wide range of planning and semi-planning boats, including catamarans.
Design a parameter estimation algorithm and, if necessary, a procedure allowing unbiased parameter estimation even under moderate sea conditions with heavily colored disturbances.
Prepare the parameter estimation to accommodate vessel dynamics dependent on speed through water.
Continuously estimate a model for second-order wave disturbances affecting the vessel.
Evaluate the model in Humphree's test vessel, our Targa 31
Bonus: Investigate possible degradation during closed-loop estimation.
Key Words
- Parameter estimation
- Colored noise
- Disturbance estimation
- Model Predictive Control
- Real-time adatrion
- Instrumental variables
- Marine control systems
CANDIDATE COMPETENCES
The must-haves:
- Final year master student within Engineering Physics, Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, Mechatronics or similar
- Anticipated graduation in June 2026
- Strong understanding and interest in control systems and programming
- Proficiency in Matlab & Simulink
- Excellent communication skills in English, both written and spoken.
Nice to have:
- Interest in and knowledge of boats
- Hydrodynamics
ABOUT HUMPHREE:
Humphree was founded in Sweden in 2002 with the mission to provide and develop innovative products and services in the field of ship and boat stabilization. With expertise in hydrodynamics, electronics, digital control, and products that are easy to use and install, Humphree is 100% committed to delivering products and services that surpass all others. Their dedication empowers boat builders worldwide to stay ahead of their competitors and offers the safest and most comfortable boat experience possible.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
- Start date: January 2026
- Location: Gothenburg
- Point of contact: Petter Lerenius, Petter.Lerenius@humphree.com
Apply by clicking the link below. Remember to be quick with your application as we apply continuous selection of candidates, and the position may be filled before the application deadline.
Please apply and write in the application who your friend is, thanks in advance!
- Department
- R&D
- Locations
- Göteborg
- Remote status
- Hybrid
Göteborg
Perks & Benefits
-
Responsibility & Career
Working in an entrepreneurial setting means that you can grow & develop faster than in other environments. Achieve your career goals in months instead of years, choose to grow with us or move on to our sister companies Volvo Penta or CPAC systems! -
A Unique Journey
Besides changing an industry and building a world class company, we work out together at our next door spa, arrange monthly activities together and some of us join the annual Humphree ski trip. -
Compensation & Benefits
The greatest compensation we can offer is to work with your passion, give you the opportunity to grow your capabilities with inspiring colleagues. That's great, but it's hard to eat. We offer competitive salaries & benefits and we pay for performance - perform well, earn well.
Workplace and Culture
We have the courage to bet on what we don't fully comprehend and trust that a combination of our skills and drive we'll grow stronger and faster than competition.
The desire to move forward is essential in how we work and who we hire. We win more often than we lose and celebrate our successes, big or small.
We take care of each other and value different perspectives to help our colleagues to better solutions for our customers.
Come by our office and meet our team - coffee and an insight to the marine world is on us!
About Humphree
Since 2002 we have offered simple to use and smart stabilization systems to the marine world. Our customers would tell you that we're second to none in quality and reliability on the seven seas. We're proud of what we have achieved and challenge ourselves to re-invent what we do to stay in the lead in the future. Curious? Connect!
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