Laurent Bimont (Li215) and François Hélénon (Bo214)are Arts et Métiers engineers. After graduating, they chose to pursue their careers by writing a thesis on artificial intelligence at LISPEN on theArts et Métiers campusArts et Métiers Lille.
After two years of preparatory classes for the Grandes Ecoles at the Lycée Corneille in Rouen, specializing in physics and mathematics, Laurent Bimont chose to enroll at Arts et Métiers. "I was looking for something concrete, related to industry," explains the engineer, who spent his final year on a Franco-American program in partnership with Georgia Tech University in Atlanta.
François Hélénon took a different path. After completing a CPGE PT program at Lycée Raspail in Paris, he enrolled at Arts et Métiers a view to pursuing a career in R&D. "From the very beginning of my preparatory studies, I was interested in research and R&D." He also completed a dual degree with Centrale-Supélec in artificial intelligence and an internship at CEA List.
It was LISPEN's thesis offer on artificial intelligence applied to collaborative robotics that caught their attention. Funded by the Arts et Métiers Foundation Arts et Métiers hand and by the Region and AMValor on the other, the two theses began in late 2018 and early 2019, and this broad subject allows for different research directions. Laurent Bimont, for example, wants to focus his research on increasing interaction and dialogue between humans and robots, using demonstration-based programming.
In addition to the research aspect, Laurent and François also enjoy teaching engineering students.
When I was a student, we didn't have any courses dedicated to artificial intelligence. The engineering student program has evolved to meet the needs of industry. Today, I myself teach a few courses on AI to first-year engineering students.
explains Laurent Bimont. François Hélénon makes a similar observation:
I co-supervise second-year student projects in robotics. They put what they learn in class directly into practice on the robots in the laboratory.
"Finally, when you're doing a thesis at the Arts, you don't feel alone!"
emphasize Laurent and François, who work regularly with research engineers from the campus robotics platform!
"In addition, many manufacturers regularly visit the laboratory, and their issues provide us with new perspectives to guide our research." There are many different opportunities for exchange and learning.
