Description:

At the Robot Lab, we develop advanced robotic milling workflows for timber fabrication using custom software and hardware. While our current custom tools offer high flexibility, they require substantial technical work and are difficult to scale or share with students and partners.

This project explores how open industry standards, like BTLx, a timber data exchange standard with a custom xml schema, can help us build smarter, more interoperable systems for timber construction. The goal is to develop a unified software pipeline that can take any timber design, defined according to this standard, and automatically generate machine-ready code, bridging the gap between digital design and robotic manufacturing.
You'll be helping us create the missing link between custom timber geometry and automated manufacturing, turning complex timber designs into fully automated fabrication workflows. This is your chance to shape the future of timber construction by making high-tech fabrication more accessible, scalable, and industry-ready.

Your main assignment is to develop a Python-based parser that reads xml files and translates them into a sequence of timber parts and corresponding machine instructions for robotic fabrication using ABB RAPID, a language for robotic instructions.

BTLx files contain structured data describing machining operations, part geometries, and processing logic. Your task is to extract this information and generate executable code for our ABB robotic milling setup—turning high-level fabrication data into low-level, real-world machine movements. The ultimate goal: take a BTLx file as input and output machine-ready code that enables our robot to autonomously execute the described manufacturing steps.

This project will give you hands-on experience in:

Parsing and interpreting XML data structures related to timber part geometry and toolpaths.
Mapping fabrication logic to robotic processes.
Generating robotic code (RAPID) for an ABB 6-axis robot.
Testing and refining your toolchain using real-world timber parts and fabrication scenarios, as part of real research projects in the Robot Lab.

Deliverables:

• BTLx (xml) to RAPID interpreter as a deployable service, including full documentation.
• Production testing outcomes

Required knowledge and skills

• Basic knowledge (plus), or willingness to learn about, Industrial Robots (we will teach you!)
• Coding skills (Python)
• Understanding of 3D modelling (such as meshes), coordinates systems and CAD software.
• Interest in manufacturing / fabrication
  
  

Deadline for application:

June 20th 2026