Stage/Internship - Development of a suspension system for a tracked UGV

John Cockerill, enablers of opportunities

Driven since 1817 by the entrepreneurial spirit and thirst for innovation of its founder, the John Cockerill Group develops large-scale technological solutions to meet the needs of its time: facilitating access to low carbon energies, enabling sustainable industrial production, preserving natural resources, contributing to greener mobility, enhancing security and installing essential infrastructures. 

Its offer to businesses, governments and communities consists of services and associated equipment for the sectors of energy, defence, industry, the environment, transports, and infrastructures. With more than 8,000 employees, John Cockerill achieved a turnover of € 1.417 billion in 2024 in 28 countries, on 5 continents. 

John Cockerill has been providing its expertise to the defense industry for 200 years. Today, John Cockerill Defense offers Cockerill® modular gun turrets from 25 to 120 mm caliber, Arquus® high-mobility vehicles, technical and tactical training on these systems, and Agueris simulators.

Your Mission:

The goal of this thesis is to develop a prototype of a suspension system for a tracked UGV. The system goal is to provide surface damping for an UGV. The study should be made for several size of UGVs. One size of UGV suspension system should be implemented during this internship. 

1. Define the needs

You will investigate the different tracked suspension systems.

2. Conceptual and scalable design

You should be able to design a suspension system that could be implemented on UGVs from various size and weight. You should have at least two CAO designs for two UGV sizes. The two variants concepts may change depending on the targeted size and weight.

3. Create one prototype

One prototype should be produced for a specific UGV size. 

Subject discussed:

Mechanical CAD (Catia / 3D Experience)
Mechanical damping system / vibrations damping
Topological optimisation / FEM analysis
Manufacturing processes 

Your Profile:

Student in a master's degree education level in electronic
Minimum level B2 in French and English
Available for at least of 2-3 months
Interrest in UGVs in general is a plus.

Your Internal Support:

During this internship, you will be supported by the R&D department and the prototyping department of John Cockerill Defense. The internal supervisors will be:

GUY Frédéric (R&D mechanical engineer) – Project definition and mechanical support
Maxime Javaux (R&D engineer) – Project definition  

What we offer you:

• Immersion in a stimulating, technology-driven environment
• Concrete and rewarding responsibilities
• A caring and passionate team

We look forward to receiving your application and meeting you.

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