Dr. Marc Patrick Zapf

Please tell us what fascinates you most about research.

There is a unique cycle of knowledge gathering, deep thinking, creativity, and application in research that is very appealing. First we need to take time to dive into, and deeply understand, the state of the art, grasping the nature of the problem to be solved. Then we need to come up with a creative solution and prove that it can overcome the problem. Going through this cycle leaves you with a better knowledge of the world and with the satisfaction of having made a significant contribution. Another enriching experience is the opportunity to develop a unique set of expertise and share this knowledge with other researchers in critical discussion. The beauty of research definitely lies in the process, not only in the result.

What makes research done at Bosch so special?

At Bosch there are so many application fields and use cases for innovative ideas to make a difference. Also, I've encountered genuine encouragement to introduce new ideas from the bottom up. Thirdly, there's a spirit of openness to new concepts and collaboration across associates and borders that reminds me of my days in academia. All in all, Bosch delivers an open environment to kick-start your creativity and the matter to apply it to.

What research topics are you currently working on at Bosch?

My main research focus is on infrastructure sensor perception and data fusion. Fusing data from roadside and vehicle sensors, we aim to more accurately model traffic flow and the road environment for autonomous vehicle decision making. Furthermore, I am working on intelligent robotics in the area of Industry 4.0. Here, we are fusing data from multiple onboard sensors with wireless technologies in order to achieve the accurate localization and navigation of vehicles in the factory environment.

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

Autonomous systems require lots and lots of training data for them to understand their environment and properly execute tasks. New skills given to machines are often specific to the environment they were trained in. With our daily life and its situations being so diverse, it is challenging to create machines that can react flexibly in all kinds of situations.

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

Bosch caters to many areas which have use for intelligent sensing and mobility technologies, for instance in home appliances, production automation, and mobility solutions. By collaborating closely with our customers, we ensure that we develop novel solutions that target specific needs on the market and can lead to innovative, new products.