Fatima Yousif Rustamani, an IFRoS student promotion 2023-2025, spent her summer interning at Paltech GmbH in Germany, a leading startup and IFRoS associated partner. Leveraging the skills gained during her first year at the University of Girona (UdG), Fatima contributed to testing ultrasonic sensors for collision avoidance in agri robots. Read about her invaluable experience and technical growth below.
“In the summer of 2024, following my first year at the University of Girona (UdG) in the IFROS program, I secured the first robotics internship of my career at Paltech GmbH, one of the leading startups in Germany and an associated partner of the IFROS Master’s program.
Thanks to the strong foundation I built during my first year at UdG, where I gained theoretical and practical experience in motion planning, localization, perception, and manipulation using the Turtlebot ground robot and AUV, I felt well-prepared to bring my knowledge into an industrial setting.
As a Robotics Intern at Paltech GmbH, I had an incredible opportunity to work on testing different ultrasonic sensors for collision avoidance tasks over the course of 10 weeks. My primary focus was evaluating two ultrasonic sensors, Bosch and Valeo, for the inclusion of a safety braking feature on Paltech’s agri robots using ROS2. This project involved conducting extensive field tests, including experiments in high-grass environments. This hands-on experience not only refined my technical skills but also deepened my passion for robotics.
Beyond the technical growth, I found a supportive and inspiring community at Paltech. From sharing laughs and lunch breaks to playing tournaments, the team created an atmosphere that was both enjoyable and motivating. Their professional and personal impact on me has been invaluable, making this internship an unforgettable experience.
I return to the IFROS program after this enriching summer internship with not only an extended family but also an enhanced understanding of robotic hardware and software, which I’m excited to build upon in the future.”
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