Master´s thesis Next Generation Mobile Experience for Process Supervision and Control

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Denna position rapporterar till:
R&D Team Lead




Your role and responsibilities

Industrial automation systems have traditionally been designed around the control room, where operators supervise, diagnose, and control industrial processes through dedicated Distributed Control System (DCS) workstations. However, many operational tasks take place outside the control room. Operators perform plant walkarounds, maintenance personnel troubleshoot equipment in the field, and service engineers provide on-site or remote support. These situations often require access to process information while users are mobile, yet current solutions are typically constrained by fixed workstations, fragmented tools, or limited mobile functionality.

At the same time, advances in mobile technologies, edge computing, industrial connectivity, and AI-assisted decision support create new opportunities for extending process awareness beyond the control room. Mobile devices can provide contextual information, real-time process insights, guided workflows, and collaboration capabilities directly where work is performed. Future solutions may not only replicate existing DCS functionality on a smaller screen, but redefine how industrial personnel interact with automation systems while on the move.

This thesis will explore how next-generation mobile user experiences can support process supervision, troubleshooting, maintenance, and decision-making in industrial environments. The student will investigate user needs, identify key use cases, study current and emerging technologies, and develop concepts or prototypes for future mobile solutions within ABB's automation ecosystem.

Recommended research questions are (can be some of the following):

• How can mobile user experiences be designed to support safe and effective access to process information outside the control room?
• What information and functionality do operators, technicians, and service engineers need when interacting with a DCS in the field?
• How can AI-assisted insights, recommendations, and contextual guidance improve decision-making in mobile industrial environments?
• How should future mobile solutions support collaboration between control room personnel, field technicians, and remote experts?
• What technical and communication requirements must be considered when extending DCS capabilities to mobile platforms?

Details:

• Spring 2027, commonly between Jan-July
• 30 ECTS/högskolepoäng (hp)
• 1-2 students
• In Västerås, possibility for hybrid workplace

Your responsibilities

• Conduct a literature review covering mobile interaction in industrial environments, mobile operator solutions, human factors, AI-assisted decision support, and remote collaboration.
• Investigate current ABB offerings and relevant market solutions for mobile access to automation and process information.
• Conduct user research through interviews, workshops, contextual studies, or discussions with ABB experts and end users.
• Identify user needs, pain points, workflows, and key use cases for mobile process supervision and support.
• Analyze technical and communication requirements associated with identified use cases.
• Develop concepts and user experience visions for next-generation mobile DCS solutions.
• Create interactive prototypes demonstrating selected concepts and use cases.
• Evaluate concepts with users or domain experts and collect feedback.
• Summarize findings and provide design recommendations for future ABB mobile offerings.

Your background

We are looking for motivated master's students interested in designing future industrial user experiences and digital solutions.

Candidates could have:

• Academic Background in one or more of the following fields:
  • Interaction Design
  • Human-Computer Interaction (HCI)
  • User Experience (UX) Design
  • Industrial Design Engineering
  • Human Factors Engineering
  • Computer Science
  • Cognitive Science or Cognitive Systems
  • Media Technology
• Interest in user-centered design, digital product development, and emerging technologies.
• Ability to conduct qualitative user research and translate findings into requirements, concepts, and design recommendations.
• Experience creating prototypes and visual concepts using tools such as Figma or similar.
• Ability to work independently and creatively in an exploratory research environment.
• Interest in industrial automation, process industries, AI-assisted systems, or industrial digitalization is considered a strong merit.

More about us

Recruiting Manager Dawid Ziobro, dawid.ziobro@se.abb.com, will answer your questions.

Apply with your CV, academic transcripts and a cover letter in English.

We look forward to receiving your application!

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