Job Description

About This Position

The future of extended reality (XR) is bright. Billions are being invested in all aspects of XR and the envisioned metaverse. From hardware to policy, from business cases to interoperability standards, from ethics to innovative payment approaches. A critical aspect to mass consumer adoption is the attractiveness of the hardware. Will future head mounted displays (HMDs) be sufficiently stylish, compact and user friendly? Recent developments indicate a clear “yes” answer. A prime example is the AR contact lens that is being developed by Mojo. These HMDs will at some point function as the primary user-facing device interacting with digital content in your direct field of view is an order of magnitude more intuitive than handling touch-based, small phone screens. A remaining open question in the multitude of use cases is how exactly will the XR users be captured by the HMD?

What will be your role?

Smart user capture from HMD devices is not as simple as was the case with phones. Challenges include the large field of view of the (multiple) camera(s) in the HMD, camera movement and rotation when moving your head, and processing limitations of the HMD.

You will investigate the challenges related to state of the art hardware, real-time body tracking, and computationally efficient ways of processing amongst others. Possible research directions include the application of recent artificial intelligence algorithms and image processing techniques for real-time user capture. You will have the opportunity to test several different XR devices and/or 360-degree cameras to assess which hardware is most suited for the task. The final goal of the project is to publish a scientific paper and/or patent of the developed method.

What We Expect From You

You are in your final stages of a master’s degree in artificial intelligence, computer science, mathematics, electrical engineering, physics, or a similar degree. You should have experience with programming (e.g. Python) and experience with XR/VR/AR or computer vision is a plus. Preferably, you are available fulltime for a period between 6 to 9 months starting from February/March 2023. Please mention the following in your application letter whether you are looking for an internship or a graduation project, the desired starting date and the desired duration of the project/internship you are looking for.

What You'll Get In Return

You want to work on the precursor of your career; a work placement 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. Naturally, we provide suitable work placement compensation.

TNO as an employer

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 and inclusion .

The selection process

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.