Internship | Test-Time Adaptation for robust AI

Do you want to contribute meaningfully to our AI research by applying Test-Time Adaptation to help robots and drones tackle challenging situations more intelligently?

Recently, a new paradigm emerged in the Machine Learning (ML) research field called Test-Time Adaptation (TTA). TTA is a generically applicable technique to make pre-trained ML models adapt to the situation or environment of a system during operations or test-time. The direct impact of this research is that a autonomously driving vehicle with mud on its sensors would still detect obstacles on its path with an adaptive model where a non-adaptive model would fail. The adaptation process happens continuously. A key challenge is to extract knowledge from the situation during test-time without any semantic meaning supplied by humans.

The Test-Time Adaptation concept has existed now for several years. In this time the state-of-the-art has moved fast in different directions. One of those is the adaptation of a model on as little data as possible whilst optimizing for performance gain. Another direction is adaptation with little extra computational resources on cheap hardware. Stability of the adaptation process is another hotly researched direction. Stability guarantees are difficult to verify and controlling stability is a key challenge in TTA.

The extraction of knowledge from raw data brings additional challenges, such as the optimal use of the available information, control and stability of the adaptation process and the optimal use of compute resources associated with these extra functionalities

In this assignment you will tackle one or more of these research directions and challenges in your applied research. You will work with state-of-the-art ML techniques and implement and evaluate those in military-relevant scenarios. The applications of your research are numerous and you can decide which to pick. We expect you to perform a critical analysis of the limitations of current methods and that you propose new, improved or extended methods to bring the TTA field one step further.

Your thesis project will be part of the Collaborative Autonomous Systems department within TNO. This department is a dynamic and interdisciplinary team of approximately 35 experts working on advanced autonomy and AI solutions for ground, air and maritime systems. The department has strong expertise in mission autonomy, localization and navigation, situational awareness and robotics.

We are looking for a motivated master’s degree student with an interest in Machine Learning and Deep Learning for defence related applications. This position is a great fit for students who enjoy combining theoretical concepts with hands-on experiments and applications.
Requirements:

• You are in the last phase of your master’s degree in the fields (or a field related to): Artificial Intelligence, Computer Science, Robotics, Electrical Engineering, Applied Mathematics or Physics.
• A background in Machine Learning and Deep Learning.
• Experience with programming and perception algorithms.
• Interest in adaptive and continuously learning algorithms.

The duration of this thesis project is between 9 to 12 months.

You want an internship opportunity on the precursor of your career; an internship gives you an opportunity to take a good look at your prospective future employer. TNO goes a step further. It’s not just looking that interests us; you and your knowledge are essential to our innovation. That’s why we attach a great deal of value to your personal and professional development. You will, of course, be properly supervised during your work placement and be given the scope for you to get the best out of yourself. Furthermore, we provide:

• A highly professional, innovative internship environment, within a team of top experts.
• A suitable internship allowance (615 euro for wo-, hbo- and mbo-students, for a full-time internship).
• Possibility of eight hours of free leave per internship month (for a full-time internship).
• A free membership of Jong TNO, where you can meet other TNO professionals and join several activities, such as sports activities, (work-related) courses or the yearly ski-trip.
• Use of a laptop.
• An allowance for travel expenses in case you don’t receive an OV-card.

At TNO, we innovate for a healthier, safer and more sustainable life. And for a strong economy. Since 1932, we have been making knowledge and technology available for the common good. We find each other in wonder and ingenuity. We are driven to push boundaries. There is all the space and support for your talent and ambition. You work with people who will challenge you: who inspire you and want to learn from you. Our state-of-the-art facilities are there to realize your vision. What you do at TNO matters: impact makes the difference. Because with every innovation you contribute to tomorrow’s world. Read more about TNO as an employer.

At TNO we encourage an inclusive work environment, where you can be yourself. Whatever your story and whatever unique qualities you bring to the table. It is by combining our unique strengths and perspectives that we are able to develop innovations that make a real difference in society. Want to know more? Read what steps we are taking in the area of diversity, equity and inclusion.

After the first CV selection, the application process will be conducted by the concerning department. TNO will provide a suitable internship agreement. If you have any questions about this vacancy, you can contact the contact person mentioned below.

Important to be aware of before applying:

• Before the start of the internship, the internship agreement from TNO needs to be signed. For students at a college or university based in the Netherlands, TNO uses the UNL-template (supplemented with a number of specific agreements from TNO). For students of foreign and MBO educational institutions, the TNO internship agreement applies. TNO does not sign any other internship agreements.
• Before the start of the internship, the educational institution will need to confirm in writing that:
  • 1) you are enrolled at the educational institution during the internship, and;
  • 2) the internship takes place as part of the programme of the study.

• The confirmation of educational institution takes place by signing the UNL template or forms prepared by TNO.
• Interns at TNO must be in possession of a Dutch residential address at the start of the internship. Performance of internship activities from abroad is not possible.