Master thesis: Robust Brake Control in Heavy Commercial Vehicle

Transport is at the core of modern society. Imagine using your expertise to shape sustainable transport and infrastructure solutions for the future. If you seek to make a difference on a global scale, working with next-gen technologies and the sharpest collaborative teams, then we could be a perfect match. ThesisThe braking performance of heavy commercial vehicles is critical for safety, stability, and driver comfort. Modern braking systems rely on the coordination of multiple braking sources, such as foundation/service brakes, and auxiliary braking systems, including regenerative braking and engine braking, to achieve the requested vehicle deceleration under a wide range of operating conditions. To provide a smooth and predictable braking response, these systems must accurately manage the distribution of braking torque while considering vehicle dynamics, actuator limitations, and varying road conditions. One of the main challenges in brake torque coordination is the variability of the braking system response. Actuator delays, transient dynamics, and variations in braking effectiveness can affect the delivery of the requested brake torque, leading to deviations in vehicle deceleration and reduced drivability. These effects may become more pronounced under varying vehicle loads, hardware variants, environmental impacts, vehicle speeds, and road friction conditions, potentially impacting both braking performance and drivability. To address these challenges, robust control strategies are required to coordinate the available braking systems while compensating for system delays. Such solutions should improve braking smoothness, response time, and overall drivability while maintaining consistent performance across a broad range of operating conditions. The objectives of the master's thesis are as follows: Investigate the influence of system and actuator delays on brake torque coordination and vehicle braking performance. Develop and evaluate control strategies that compensate for response delays and variations in braking effectiveness in real-time. Assess vehicle drivability and comfort using suitable performance metrics. Analyze controller robustness and the variability of braking performance under different road conditions, vehicle loads and driving scenarios. Validate the proposed solution in a simulation environment using representative scenarios derived from vehicle test data and compare its performance against existing control strategies. If this sounds interesting, please send your application before 25th October 2026 For questions about the topic please contact: Esteban Gelso via email esteban.gelso@volvo.comWe value your data privacy and therefore do not accept applications via mail. Who we are and what we believe in We are committed to shaping the future landscape of efficient, safe, and sustainable transport solutions. Fulfilling our mission creates countless career opportunities for talents across the group’s leading brands and entities. Applying to this job offers you the opportunity to join Volvo Group. Every day, you will be working with some of the sharpest and most creative brains in our field to be able to leave our society in better shape for the next generation. ​We are passionate about what we do, and we thrive on teamwork. ​We are almost 100,000 people united around the world by a culture of care, inclusiveness, and empowerment. Trucks Technology & Industrial Division hire team players who are ready to create real customer impact. Our decentralized teams work close to our customers, with speed and autonomy, to build what they truly need. Join us to collaborate on innovative, sustainable technologies that redefine how we design, build, and deliver value. Bring your curiosity, your expertise, and your collaborative energy, and together, we’ll turn bold ideas into tangible solutions for our customers and contribute to a more sustainable tomorrow.