Paul Bakker (trainee EngD Robotics)

Hi, my name is Paul and I’m taking the EngD programme Robotics at the University of Twente.

The world around us is changing. Robotics is and will play an ever-increasing role in our society. Where labour shifts from manual to automated processes, robots will play an ever-growing role. This process is inevitable, I don’t just want to contribute to it, I want to define it. With the EngD degree in robotics, I want to put myself as the first tier in a multidisciplinary project with an affinity for robotics.

MY PROJECT

Most of you already know the SEGWAY and nowadays the hoverboard is becoming popular. Both systems have two wheels to drive them. In my project, I want to develop a system which drives on a ball, instead of wheels. The person can sit or stand on a platform, which balances on a ball. Three Omni wheels make contact with the ball. By manipulation of the Omni wheels, the person should remain stable on the system (read not fall from).

THE FLEXIBILITY THE UNIVERSITY OF TWENTE PROVIDES TO PURSUE MY ENGD IS PHENOMENAL!

I work at a company and do the EngD part-time. The flexibility the University of Twente provides to pursue my EngD is phenomenal! In consultation with the university, you can pick the courses which relate to the project, such that you not only learn the theory but can also apply the theory to your project.