Albi Mines students work on AI with Georgia Tech

The Albi School of Mines is working on projects based on artificial intelligence. She collaborates with the American University Georgia Tech.

“What pleases our students is that we think about the future”. Since joining IMT Mines Albi-Carmaux as director two and a half years ago, Narendra Jussien has been constantly developing the programs. The objective: to make this engineering school an institution at the forefront of artificial intelligence (AI) thanks to virtual reality (VR).

” READ ALSO –Ranking of engineering schools of Figaro

To do this, the school’s industrial engineering center, consisting of 45 people, is working on various projects. But he does not plan on these technological advances alone. On November 15, 2019, the school launched a new research laboratory, twinned with the highly regarded Georgia Tech University in the United States.

With a smile on their faces, Narendra Jussien and Benoît Montreuil, professor of industrial engineering at the American University cut the ribbon of inauguration together on the huge campus of Albi. “We have the same vision of things regarding AI (artificial intelligence) and VR (virtual reality), the representative of Georgia Tech tells Le Figaro. Together, we will advance the research”.

Concrete projects

Both institutions are thinking about developing the management of the supply chain of companies. In Albi, doctoral students and some master’s students, supervised by engineers, imagined a scenario in which a skateboard company should learn how to properly manage the flow of its stocks, or face a strike movement. For this, they develop and use virtual reality via a headset and a controller that allows them to navigate between different tools. They thus visualize graphs or charts representing the fluctuation of stocks.

“We would like research to be mandatory in the programs soon”Narendra Jussien, Director of IMT Mines Albi-Carmaux

In another, much more pictorial project, students simulate the crisis management of a fire in the corridors and on the subway platform. With a virtual reality headset, they play the roles of firefighter, policeman and doctor. Thanks to artificial intelligence controlled via software, they receive on a virtual screen at the level of their wrist the most adapted safety and rescue instructions for civilians to be effective quickly.

Learning to learn

Working on these technologies pushes young people to develop their thinking skills. A skill that will be very useful to them for the future. For Narendra Jussien, the idea is to make available “a toolbox” TK. “We want our students to find a job after school, but above all we want them to be operational for the rest of their careers. We teach them to learn”, he explains.

Students are aware that they are not only trained to apply what they are taught. For Aurélie, in her first year of her PhD, this is a real added value. “Working on artificial intelligence brings an open mind. The school is evolving, it gives value to our diploma”, estimates the 27-year-old.

A new technology for students

These research works also allow students to discover a new universe. This is the case of Thibaut, 23, who completed his master’s degree in engineering last September and has just started his doctorate. “These are very interesting projects. Working on AI is something new for me, I hadn’t had the opportunity to use them during my training”, he observes.

And for good reason: for now, research around artificial intelligence through virtual reality is only an optional module for students at the end of their studies. “But we would like it to be mandatory in the programs soon”, notes Narendra Jussien.

Service: To find out more about IMT Mines Albi and its various training courses, go to the Campus-Channel page!

Virtual Reality App Development Company | Unity Development Services