Master Thesis: High-Fidelity LiDAR Simulation for Off-Road Autonomous Vehicles (SIL, 2026)

Transport is at the core of modern society. Imagine using your expertise to shape sustainable transport and infrastructure solutions for the future. If you seek to make a difference on a global scale, working with next-gen technologies and the sharpest collaborative teams, then we could be a perfect match. 

Background
At Volvo Autonomous Solutions (V.A.S.), automated vehicle systems are developed to improve the productivity and safety of the confined area transportation. To reach level 4 autonomy within the operational design domain (ODD) in quarrying and mining, a lot of work in verification and validation needs to be carried out to ensure the application is safe and works as expected with improved productivity.

A key part in the testing of automated applications is simulation. Simulations are not only cost-effective, but also far more efficient and scalable compared to conventional physical testing on vehicles. To generate trustworthy results from closed-loop simulations of autonomous systems, the sensor data generated by simulator models should well represent real-world sensor data.

One of the biggest challenges in this area is the modeling and validation of LiDAR sensors, especially high-fidelity ones with reasonable computational performance to achieve real-time closed-loop simulation.

Keywords
Simulation, Digital Twin, LiDAR Modelling, Computer Graphics, GPU Programming, Physically Based Rendering, Unreal Engine, 3D Data Analysis

Objectives

Based on our current in-house simulator, the objective of the Master Thesis would be to implement a new LiDAR model that performs:

• Efficient interaction with detailed virtual 3D environments such as terrain, vegetation, building, machine, and vehicle
• Point cloud sampling not only the distance, but also optical attributes such as reflectivity on different materials
• Realistic and performant interaction with airborne particles such as dust cloud, rain and snow

Scope and Methods

• Literature review on existing methods from both academic and industrial research
• Get familiar with our simulation environment based on CARLA
• Select the most appropriate technique (e.g. CPU ray casting vs GPU ray tracing) and implement a new LiDAR model in the simulator
• Run simulations and analyze the point clouds generated from various scenarios, with a focus on 3D object shape, material, and interference introduced by dust cloud
• Statistically compare the simulated results with real LiDAR point cloud logs under similar scenarios as the evaluation process
• Write a final report

Who are we
During the thesis work, you will be part of the SIL team at V.A.S.  The team is responsible for the development of an in-house simulation environment and tools. We are a small team of simulation developers with varying backgrounds and seniorities, with a center of gravity towards modeling and tool development for virtual testing of autonomous driving systems.

Who are you
We’re looking for 2 master’s thesis students, the work for each student will be equivalent to 20 weeks / 30 ECTS on master level.

To excel in this thesis work, a strong interest in mathematical modeling and 3D simulation is beneficial. Suitable backgrounds include computer science, computational science, software engineering, or similar.

Requirements:
Eligible to work in Sweden as the location of this thesis project will be at Volvo Autonomous Solutions’ office in Gothenburg.

Ideal candidates have interest in linear algebra, computer graphics, real-time 3D rendering, profiling and optimization. Experience of C++ is a benefit.

Good to have:
Prior experience with Unreal Engine, real-time simulation, physics-based sensor modeling, robotics or autonomous vehicles, Python

Why join us
At Volvo Autonomous Solutions, you’ll be part of a team that’s shaping the future of transport through cutting-edge technology and innovation. This thesis offers a unique opportunity to work hands-on with autonomous vehicle systems in a real-world industrial setting, supported by experienced engineers and access to state-of-the-art tools. You’ll gain valuable insights into functional safety standards and embedded systems while contributing to solutions that make mobility safer and smarter. Join us and take your first step toward a career that drives change.

We look forward to receiving your application letter, academic transcript, and CV (in English).

If you have questions about this position, please contact the recruiting manager
Ivana Jern, Group Manager Measure, ivana.jern@volvo.com

Last application date: 3rd of December
Please note that selection will be made continuously so apply as soon as possible

We value your data privacy and therefore do not accept applications via mail. 

Who we are and what we believe in 
We are committed to shaping the future landscape of efficient, safe, and sustainable transport solutions. Fulfilling our mission creates countless career opportunities for talents across the group’s leading brands and entities.

Applying to this job offers you the opportunity to join Volvo Group. Every day, you will be working with some of the sharpest and most creative brains in our field to be able to leave our society in better shape for the next generation. ​We are passionate about what we do, and we thrive on teamwork. ​We are almost 100,000 people united around the world by a culture of care, inclusiveness, and empowerment. 

Part of Volvo Group, Volvo Autonomous Solutions accelerates the development, commercialization and sales of autonomous transport solutions, focusing on defined segments for the on- and off-road space. The combination of strong tech expertise and skilled customer solutions creates innovative transport offers never seen before. We are constantly pushing our own skills and ability to drive change in a traditional industry to meet a growing customer demand. We are now looking for innovative, committed individuals to join us in our endeavor to create customer solutions that enhance safety, flexibility and productivity.