The Driving Simulation Conference Europe VR (DSC) took place at the Antibes Convention Center from September 9 to 11, 2020. For this 19th edition, two first-year students in the Master of Science atthe Institut Arts et Métiers Chalon-sur-Saône presented their solution for optimizing wait times at red lights and thereby reducing a vehicle’s CO2 emissions. We look back on this project with them.
Their journeys
Alice Villafranca holds a professional bachelor’s degree in mobile app development from theClermont-Ferrand University Institute of Technology. Alice did not want to attend an engineering school and was interested in Virtual and Augmented Reality, so the Master of Science program was a natural continuation of her academic path.
Alexis Gabas holds a Bachelor’s degree in Digital Modeling from STRATE School of Design in Sèvres. Alexis learned about the Master of Science program Master of Science a former classmate. He was drawn to the career opportunities offered by this program.
The project
Due to the health crisis and lockdown, their internships were canceled, but Alice and Alexis bounced back to form a duo working on the Sustainable Mobility project led by Jean-Rémy Chardonnet, a lecturer and researcher at the Institute, and Andras Kemeny, associate professor Arts et Métiers, leading expert in Immersive Simulation and Virtual Reality at Renault, and director of LiV Arts et Métiers.
The student duo sought a solution to optimize traffic light operation and thereby reduce CO2 emissions. Their solution is based on counting the number of vehicles on each lane in real time. Based on these numbers, their algorithm determines which lanes are the busiest and thus which lights should turn green and for how long.
We had two months to deliver this project and produce a video and a six-page paper in English, says Alice.
Armed with feedback from the experts who evaluated their solution, they proposed improvements. "This project allowed me to reprogram in Python, a language I hadn't used since high school," says Alice.
The sequel
Alice wants to take a gap year to develop an interactive project for theaters. She would like to leave the automotive industry, which is not in line with her beliefs, but certainly not the virtual and augmented reality industry, as her project will use these technologies.
Alexis took advantage of the convention to expand his network in the automotive industry, and once he has his degree, he hopes to pursue a career in aeronautics or aerospace.
Both are unanimous in inviting and encouraging future students to compete in the next contest organized as part of the DSC.
