Annika Hagemann

Please tell us what fascinates you most about research.

Research in computer vision means finding novel, better algorithms to enable machines to "see" their surroundings. What I find fascinating is that vision seems quite effortless for us as humans, but implementing it in terms of algorithms generates an extremely high level of complexity. Trying to cope with these challenges and coming up with new solutions is what makes research exciting.

What makes research done at Bosch so special?

I really appreciate the combination of basic research and application focus. Most of our research has a clear practical purpose and it is motivating to know that your results can be applied by others in future. Beyond that, there are many possibilities to discuss ideas – within the PhD community, with other researchers, and with colleagues from business units, who can give you a wide range of perspectives on your research topic.

What research topics are you currently working on at Bosch?

My current research is focused on high-accuracy camera calibration. This kind of calibration is needed whenever cameras are applied, for instance, to measure distances to other objects (e.g. in automated driving). Although the basic ideas behind camera calibration are well-known, ensuring the required accuracy remains a challenge. Therefore, my colleagues and I develop algorithms to detect calibration errors and to ensure high-accuracy calibrations.

What are the biggest scientific challenges in your field of research?

One of the main challenges in future will be the development of reliable algorithms for camera self-calibration, where camera characteristics are estimated online during usage. This is important as camera characteristics can change over time, which could introduce safety-critical errors. Unlike classical calibration approaches, self-calibration cannot rely on known 3D structures. To cope with this challenge, we are currently exploring combinations of deep learning and classical, geometric constraints.

How do the results of your research become part of solutions "Invented for life"?

An accurate perception of the surroundings is essential not only for automated driving, but also for intelligent robots, with applications spanning many different areas of our lives. By ensuring high-accuracy calibrations, we contribute to the accuracy and the safety of these systems.