The Intelligent Vehicles group at the TU Delft is seeking a PhD candidate with an interest in performing cutting edge research in the active and exciting research area of self-driving vehicles, in collaboration with TomTom, a global leader in mapping and navigation products.

Currently, highly automated vehicles commonly rely on detailed 3D maps created with SLAM algorithms and LIDAR data for accurate self-localization. However, these representations do not scale, are sensitive to changes in the environment, are sensor specific, and also computationally intensive. TomTom’s research product RoadDNA takes an alternative approaches to represent the road environment more efficiently. However, it uses a hand-engineered representation, which is mainly target at highway environments sensed with LIDAR at a fixed compression rate.

This PhD will instead develop optimized representations for mapping and localization in complex urban environments by learning robust semantic feature representations through end-to-end weakly-supervised deep-learning. The novel methods can additionally support rough priors provided by GPS, structural priors from aerial imagery and existing map data, or even temporal context. A learned representation can thus focus on features which matter most in the local area, and henceforth reduce its size, and increase localization efficiency. Higher-level features are additionally more robust against environmental changes, and could be transferred between multi-modal sensor setups or multiple viewpoints.     

Prospective applicants should have a strong academic record in computer science, artificial intelligence or robotics with solid background in machine learning, probabilistic graphical models, computer vision and/or robot localization. Good software development and programming skills are expected, preferably in C++ and Python/MATLAB. Knowledge of deep-learning frameworks (Torch/TensorFlow/Caffe) and CUDA/OpenCV/ROS is a plus. A certain affinity towards turning complex concepts into real-world practice (i.e. vehicle demonstrator) is desired. All applicant(s) are expected to be able to act independently as well as to collaborate effectively with members of a larger team. Good English skills are required.

Research will be performed in collaboration with TomTom R&D, in Amsterdam, where the candidate is expected to work on average about 0,2 FTE.

Fixed-term contract: 4 years.

TU Delft offers a customisable compensation package, a discount for health insurance and sport memberships, and a monthly work costs contribution. Flexible work schedules can be arranged. An International Children’s Centre offers childcare and an international primary school. Dual Career Services offers support to accompanying partners. Salary and benefits are in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities.

As a PhD candidate you will be enrolled in the TU Delft Graduate School. TU Delft Graduate School provides an inspiring research environment; an excellent team of supervisors, academic staff and a mentor; and a Doctoral Education Programme aimed at developing your transferable, discipline-related and research skills. Please visit www.tudelft.nl/phd for more information.

Delft University of Technology

Delft University of Technology (TU Delft) is a multifaceted institution offering education and carrying out research in the technical sciences at an internationally recognised level. Education, research and design are strongly oriented towards applicability. TU Delft develops technologies for future generations, focusing on sustainability, safety and economic vitality. At TU Delft you will work in an environment where technical sciences and society converge. TU Delft comprises eight faculties, unique laboratories, research institutes and schools.

https://www.tudelft.nl

Faculty Mechanical, Maritime and Materials Engineering

The 3mE Faculty trains committed engineering students, PhD candidates and post-doctoral researchers in groundbreaking scientific research in the fields of mechanical, maritime and materials engineering. 3mE is the epitome of a dynamic, innovative faculty, with a European scope that contributes demonstrable economic and social benefits.

The main focus of the Cognitive Robotics department is the development of intelligent robots and vehicles that will advance mobility, productivity and quality of life. Our mission is to bring robotic solutions to human-inhabited environments, focusing on research in the areas of machine perception, motion planning and control, machine learning, automatic control and physical interaction of intelligent machines with humans. We combine fundamental research with work on physical demonstrators in areas such as self-driving vehicles, collaborative industrial robots, mobile manipulators and haptic interfaces. Strong collaborations exist with cross-faculty institutes TU Delft Robotics Institute and TU Delft Transport Institute), our national robotic ecosystem (RoboValley, Holland Robotics) and international industry and academia. For more information, see https://www.tudelft.nl/en/3me/departments/cognitive-robotics-cor/.

https://www.tudelft.nl/en/3me