Thesis Work - When the Lights Go Out: Rethinking Troubleshooting through Augmented Reality in Critical Electrical Networks

At ABB, we help industries outrun - leaner and cleaner. Here, progress is an expectation - for you, your team, and the world. As a global market leader, we'll give you what you need to make it happen. It won't always be easy, growing takes grit. But at ABB, you'll never run alone. Run what runs the world.

This Position reports to:

Details

• Period: Spring 2026, typically between January-July
• Number of credits: 30 ECTS
• Number of students: 1
• Location: Vasteras, possibility for hybrid work

Your role and responsibilities

Large electrical installations are the home of large networks of devices, all working in synchrony to maintain a grid stable and online. All around us, these devices form the heartbeat that most of our daily life depend upon, only noticed when something fails. We can probably all remember a moment where our electricity at home, work or school went down - if only for a brief moment. How apparent was it at that moment that almost everything around us depends on this life force of electrons?

Maintaining a stable grid with a high uptime is crucial in many industrial domains where the need is high to quickly understand the problem, assess the cause, and identify a solution. Today, the procedures are relying on one-to-one interactions with a series of devices to mentally build a coherent understanding of the problem space. But how will the troubleshooting procedure evolve in a future where more devices get smarter and more connected?

This topic focuses on exploring the use of state-of-the-art technologies for improving troubleshooting procedures in safety critical contexts. Examples of research topics are in the realms of exploring state-of-the-art applications of AR, increasing physical safety through AR, industry standards regarding interactions with AR technology, and risks and challenges associated with interacting with an AR landscape.

Your background

We are looking for motivated master's students with a strong interest in human-centered design and automation.

Candidates could have:

• Academic Backgroundin one or more of the following fields:
  • Human-Computer Interaction (HCI)
  • Interaction Design
  • Human Factors Engineering
  • Cognitive Psychology or Behavioral Science
  • Systems Design or Ergonomics
  • Socio-Technical Systems
  • Game development

• Ability to conduct user research and translate insights into concrete concepts
• Ability to use Figma, Unity or similar or other tools to create interactive prototypes
• Able to approach challenges proactively and creatively, integrating user-centered approaches with technological advancements
• Ideally have interests or previous experience in the topic of Augmented Reality
  

More about us

ABBis a global technology leader in electrification and automation. We see our purpose as being to enable a more sustainable and resource-efficient future. By connecting our engineering and digitalization expertise, we help industries run at high performance, while becoming more efficient, productive and sustainable so they outperform. We call this: 'Engineered to Outrun.'

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.

Join us. Be part of the team where progress happens, industries transform, and your work shapes the world. Run What Runs the World.

A Future Opportunity
Please note that this position is part of our talent pipeline and not an active job opening at this time. By applying, you express your interest in future career opportunities with ABB.

We value people from different backgrounds. Could this be your story? Apply today or visit www.abb.com to learn more about us and see the impact of our work across the globe.