INTERNSHIP DETAILS

Master Thesis - Out-of-distribution detection + annotation for traversability estimation for robots

CompanyFraunhofer-Gesellschaft
LocationStuttgart
Work ModeOn Site
PostedDecember 23, 2025
Internship Information
Core Responsibilities
You will design a semantic traversability classification DNN pipeline for long-term traversability estimation. The focus will be on extending existing algorithms to detect out-of-distribution environments and automate model learning.
Internship Type
full time
Company Size
279
Visa Sponsorship
No
Language
English
Working Hours
40 hours
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About The Company
Fraunhofer IGD is the international leading institute for applied research in visual computing. Visual computing is image- and model-based information technology and includes computer graphics and computer vision, as well as virtual and augmented reality. In simple terms, the Fraunhofer researchers in Darmstadt, Rostock, and Kiel are turning information into images and extracting information from images. In cooperation with its partners, technical solutions and market-relevant products are created. Prototypes and integrated solutions are developed in accordance with customized requirements. In doing so, Fraunhofer IGD places users at the forefront, providing them with technical solutions to facilitate computer work and make it more efficient. Owing to its numerous innovations, Fraunhofer IGD raises man-machine interaction to a new level. Man is able to work in a more result-oriented and effective way by means of the computer and visual computing developments.
About the Role

Advertisement for the field of study such as: Automation technology, electrical engineering, computer science, cybernetics, mechanical engineering, mathematics, mechatronics, control engineering, software design, software engineering, technical computer science or comparable.

 

In the Professional Service Robots - Outdoor research group we develop autonomous, mobile robots for a variety of outdoor applications, such as agriculture, forestry and logistics. The focus is on the development of an autonomous outdoor navigation solution as well as the hardware of the robots.

 

For mobile robots operating in outdoor, unstructured environments with unknown terrain conditions, accurately understanding the traversability of the surrounding environment is essential. This ensures that the robot navigates through safe paths, avoiding difficult terrains such as mud and dense vegetation and preventing collision with obstacles.

 

A key approach in this research field consists of using Deep Neural Networks and Foundation Models to perform traversability inference on incoming camera images. However, a major challenge lies in the lack of extensive datasets for the different field environments and the high effort in acquiring and labeling the data set. This is especially limiting for robots operating in a wide variety of environments and performing exploration tasks.

 

Therefore, state-of-the-art semantic traversability classification algorithms need to be extended with the capability to detect out-of-distribution environments and to autonomously infer their traversability.

 

Hier sorgen Sie für Veränderung

In this thesis, you will design a semantic traversability classification DNN pipeline capable of performing long-term traversability estimation. You will focus on extending our state-of-the-art few-shot segmentation DNN algorithm to enable automatic adaptation to new environments. In particular, you will evaluate different methods to identify out-of-distribution domains. You will also evaluate different approaches for automated model-learning using the robot’s experience in these new environments. You will test your implementation in real-world scenarios using both recorded data and real-life deployment in our mobile CURT robots.

 

Hiermit bringen Sie sich ein

  • Student enrolled at a German university/Hochschule
  • Background in Computer Science, Software Engineering, Mechatronics or similar 
  • Experience with deep learning frameworks such as Keras / TensorFlow / PyTorch
  • Experience in developing and testing deep learning models for computer vision applications is beneficial
  • Analytical mindset
  • Enthusiasm for mobile robotics
  • Fluent in English or German 

 

Was wir für Sie bereithalten

  • Cutting-edge technology in the field of outdoor mobile robotics
  • Hands on with our robots in Stuttgart 
  • Take on responsibility and freedom to implement your own ideas
  • Work with the best students in their discipline 
  • Familiar atmosphere including Cake Thursday

 

Wir wertschätzen und fördern die Vielfalt der Kompetenzen unserer Mitarbeitenden und begrüßen daher alle Bewerbungen – unabhängig von Alter, Geschlecht, Nationalität, ethnischer und sozialer Herkunft, Religion, Weltanschauung, Behinderung sowie sexueller Orientierung und Identität. Schwerbehinderte Menschen werden bei gleicher Eignung bevorzugt eingestellt. Unsere Aufgaben sind vielfältig und anpassbar – für Bewerber*innen mit Behinderung finden wir gemeinsam Lösungen, die ihre Fähigkeiten optimal fördern.

Mit ihrer Fokussierung auf zukunftsrelevante Schlüsseltechnologien sowie auf die Verwertung der Ergebnisse in Wirtschaft und Industrie spielt die Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft eine zentrale Rolle im Innovationsprozess. Als Wegweiser und Impulsgeber für innovative Entwicklungen und wissenschaftliche Exzellenz wirkt sie mit an der Gestaltung unserer Gesellschaft und unserer Zukunft. 

Bereit für Veränderung? Dann bewerben Sie sich jetzt, und machen Sie einen Unterschied! Nach Eingang Ihrer Online-Bewerbung erhalten Sie eine automatische Empfangsbestätigung. Dann melden wir uns schnellstmöglich und sagen Ihnen, wie es weitergeht. 
 

Ms. Jennifer Leppich

Recruiting

+49 711 970-1415

jennifer.leppich@ipa.fraunhofer.de  

Fraunhofer-Institut für Produktionstechnik und Automatisierung IPA 

www.ipa.fraunhofer.de 


Kennziffer: 82292                Bewerbungsfrist: 

 

Key Skills
Deep LearningComputer VisionSoftware EngineeringMechatronicsAutomation TechnologyAnalytical MindsetMobile RoboticsKerasTensorFlowPyTorch
Categories
EngineeringScience & ResearchTechnologyData & AnalyticsSoftware
Benefits
Cutting-Edge TechnologyHands-On ExperienceResponsibility and Freedom to Implement IdeasCollaborative Environment