Bochum gets a new professorship for cognitive sensor technology and AI research!

Bochum gets a new professorship for cognitive sensor technology and AI research!

Prof. Dr. Stefan Brüggenwirth will be Professor of Cognitive Sensory Science at the Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Information Technology at the Ruhr University Bochum from March 1, 2025. His appointment takes place in close cooperation with the Fraunhofer Society. Brüggenwirth, who has been working at the university since 2018, has a clear research focus: processing sensor data with artificial intelligence.

The application of these technologies is diverse. He works in areas such as machine learning, statistical methods and multisensory data fusion as well as signal processing and object recognition. Sensors such as radar, LIDAR and cameras are essential because they measure distances, speeds and angles of objects. However, the raw data collected by these sensors must be interpreted in order to be practically used in industrial applications. Brüggenwirth emphasizes that AI processes enable data-driven evaluation and are therefore essential for application examples in Industry 4.0, mobile robotics, autonomous driving and medical technology.

Research practice and student support

Brüggenwirth emphasizes the importance of familiarizing students with practical examples from research. The cooperation with the Fraunhofer Society offers students the opportunity to apply to the Fraunhofer Institute for master's theses or dissertation projects. In addition, the presence of the Fraunhofer Institute in the Bochum Technology Center is being established, which opens up promising perspectives for local students.

Brüggenwirth's new professorship complements the cooperation with the chair for integrated high-frequency sensors of Prof. Dr. Dirk Nüßler, what enriches the research landscape at the Ruhr University Bochum.

Challenges of autonomous systems

The topic of autonomous vehicles represents a major challenge. They not only have to operate safely in traffic, but also function reliably. An autonomous vehicle that stops on the side of the road in unclear situations is safe, but not reliable. The development of such vehicles requires millions of test kilometers to gain experience and ensure their safety.

To guarantee autonomy, vehicles must be tested in various conditions, including different lighting and weather conditions. Any change to the software requires careful testing. The success of these technologies depends critically on AI-based methods and cognitive systems. These must also meet three central requirements: security, reliability and costs. This is particularly important because the systems must also react confidently to unexpected events. An autonomous car, for example, must be able to act safely when faced with unidentified objects and make decisions such as braking or evading.

The Fraunhofer Institute for Cognitive Systems IKS works to improve cognitive systems, particularly in the areas of cognitive networking, flexible architecture development and cognitive behavior, to ensure that AI works reliably within these systems.