Annika Hagemann

Please tell us what fascinates you most about research.
Our research aims at finding novel, better algorithms to enable machines to “see” their environment. What fascinates me about this field is that vision appears to be effortless for humans yet translating this ability into algorithms is an extremely complex task. Although the progress in recent years has been impressive, there are still so many open problems that are exciting to investigate.

What makes research done at Bosch so special?
The connection of research and practical application. 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. At the same time, we can dive into completely new topics that are not always directly applicable but could provide the basis for future applications.

What research topics are you currently working on at Bosch?
My current research is focused on 3D computer vision. Our goal is to enable precise camera-based 3D perception, which includes, for instance, the measurement of distances to other traffic participants in automated driving. A concrete problem is, for example, the calibration, because 3D environment perception requires an exact mathematical model for the projection of the camera. Therefore, my colleagues and I develop novel algorithms to achieve highly accurate calibration, and to ensure this accuracy during application.

What are the biggest scientific challenges in your field of research?
One of the long-standing challenges is the development of reliable algorithms for camera self-calibration, where the camera's projection model is precisely determined during application. 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 address this challenge, we are currently exploring combinations of deep learning and 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 calibration, we contribute to the accuracy and safety of these systems.