Why This Matters
In autonomous driving, accurate vehicle localization is key to ensuring safety and precision, even in challenging environments. Traditional image-based feature detectors like SIFT have been widely used to define interest points in images. However, in conditions like low light or bad weather, image-based methods fall short. That’s where multi-modal sensor data—like lidar and radar—becomes essential. We are exploring how deep learning-based approaches, such as SuperPoint neural feature detectors, can be adapted for multi-modal data streams to improve robustness and performance in these difficult scenarios.

Your Role in the Project
In this master thesis project, you will:

• Conduct a literature review on feature detectors and descriptors.
• Adapt existing deep learning-based feature detectors (currently applied to images) to work with multi-modal data streams (images, lidar, radar).
• Test and evaluate your solution using Zenseact’s proprietary dataset.
• Document your findings, approaches, and potential improvements.

What We’re Looking For
We are seeking two highly motivated students with:

• A solid foundation in mathematics (calculus, optimization, statistics).
• Strong programming skills in software engineering, algorithms, and debugging.
• Experience with deep learning (preferably in PyTorch).
• Familiarity with computer vision concepts (feature descriptors, camera models).
• Comfort working in Linux, terminal environments, and version control (Git).

What’s in it for You?

• Hands-on experience with state-of-the-art autonomous driving sensor technology.
• A chance to develop innovative solutions in deep learning and computer vision.
• Mentorship and collaboration with industry experts at Zenseact.
• The opportunity to contribute to a project that tackles real-world challenges in self-driving technology.

How to Apply & Important Details
Please send in individual applications, including your CV, motivational letter, and grade transcripts. If you wish to partner with someone, note this in your application.

• Planned start: January 2025 (with flexibility).
• Final application date: November 15, 2024 (applications reviewed on a rolling basis).
• Duration: 30 ECTS.

For further questions, please contact: Amer Mustajbasic (amer.mustajbasic@zenseact.com).

More about Zenseact

Our software makes a difference.
Using AI-based technology to create the ultimate driver support, we’re fighting to end car accidents and make roads safe for everyone. Around 1,4 million people die in traffic yearly while approximately 50 million people get injured. Many get disabled as a result of their injury. We can do better.

One purpose, one product.
We’re a software company dedicated to revolutionizing car safety. By designing the complete software stack for autonomous driving and advanced driver-assistance systems, we’re fighting to end car accidents and make roads safe for everyone. Zenseact was founded by Volvo Cars, and the teams are based in Gothenburg, Sweden, and Shanghai, China.When we aim for zero accidents faster, we strive to speed up the transition to safe automation. This is essentially achieved by making cars updatable – like a computer or a phone. With regular software updates, a vehicle can be made safer long after its production. By accelerating improvement loops, shortening development cycles, and deploying high-capacity software quickly, we can make cars safer, faster.

Culture with people at heart
To achieve our mission of saving lives and ending traffic accidents is to go where nobody has before. It requires us to venture into the unknown, pioneering new technology and pushing the frontier of autonomous driving. While there’s no denying our determination and expertise, we must stand united to succeed. By fostering a culture of support and enablement – a place of psychological safety where all of us can thrive – everything else will follow. We call this a people-at-heart culture. This culture means caring. It means the company cares about me, and we care about one another. It means sharing, so we give each other energy and have fun together. Our culture is also about belonging. It’s important to feel at home and that we can be ourselves at work. Finally, a people-at-heart culture means well-being. So, we enjoy the flexibility needed to be and do our best – at work and in life.

Zenseact works proactively to create a culture of diversity and inclusion, where individual differences are appreciated and respected. To drive innovation we see diversity as an asset, which means we value and respect differences in gender, race, ethnicity, religion or other belief, disability, sexual orientation or age etc.
Interviews are held on a continuous basis, so we highly recommend that you submit your application at your earliest convenience.