News | Honours
ESIEE Paris Students Honored at the Embedded Systems Conference
At the 17th edition of the Assises de l’Embarqué (Embedded Systems Conference), the project POTOMATIC, presented by two students from ESIEE Paris, received the Audience Favorite Award. This annual flagship event in the embedded systems sector took place on January 28, 2025, at the Pierre Mendès-France Conference Center in Paris-Bercy.
A Standout Student Project
Out of the 15 finalists for the Embedded Systems Trophies—most of which came from the industrial sector—POTOMATIC, developed by ESIEE Paris students, was one of only two student projects selected. It went on to win the Audience Favorite Award, presented by a jury of industry professionals.
A Pitch That Captivated Experts
In front of an audience of embedded systems professionals, Pierre-Urbain Cogniard and Alban Ferracani delivered a confident and compelling presentation.
Their project stood out thanks to a solution that integrates all layers of embedded systems - from hardware to software, including artificial intelligence.
Their standout performance earned them the Audience Favorite Award, a distinction rarely awarded to a student project.
Innovation Serving Agriculture
POTATOMATIC is an AI-powered optical sorter for potatoes. It efficiently classifies potatoes by quality (healthy, green, rotten, or damaged) and removes clumps of soil or stones. Thanks to its unique ejection mechanism, the system ensures precise sorting, optimizing product quality and repurposing waste.
With a 92% accuracy rate and the ability to sort 1.5 tons per hour, the project showcases the full potential of AI in agriculture.
A Key Industry Event
Organized by Embedded France, the Assises de l’Embarqué is a must-attend event for the embedded systems community.
This year’s theme: "AI in all its forms: efficient and embedded, trusted and sovereign, generative and hybrid."
Embedded software is playing an increasingly vital role, with mounting challenges around hardware/software integration under strict safety and security requirements.
For its 17th edition, the Embedded Systems Trophies ceremony was chaired by Captronic, represented by its director Jean-Philippe Malicet.
The POTATOMATIC project was launched as part of Project Day, an annual event organized by ESIEE Paris to foster entrepreneurial spirit among students.It was developed by Pierre-Urbain Cogniard, Alban Ferracani, Thomas Fournier, and Paul Gilquin, under the guidance of faculty members Abir Rezgui, Rédha Hamouche, and Rémy Kocik.
A Proud Moment for ESIEE Paris
This achievement highlights the strength of ESIEE Paris’s training and the expertise of its students in embedded systems and artificial intelligence. It also demonstrates their ability to address real-world technological innovation challenges.
Watch the Students' Presentation
Pitch Watch the vidéo
Award Ceremony (starting at 4:35:40) Watch the video
Congratulations to the students and their mentors on this outstanding success!