ESILV’s Industry & Robotics specialisation prepares future engineers to design, integrate and manage industrial systems where robotics, artificial intelligence, mechatronics and the connected industry converge. The programme combines scientific teaching, projects, technology platforms and work placements to address the developments of Industry 4.0 and the prospects of Industry 5.0.
Automation, collaborative robotics, industrial connected devices and artificial intelligence are transforming production methods across all industrial sectors. In light of these developments, companies are seeking engineers capable of mastering both physical systems and the digital technologies that support them.
The Industry & Robotics major within ESILV’s Master in Engineering – Grande Ecole Programme meets these needs by offering a course that combines mechanics, electronics, industrial computing, artificial intelligence and embedded systems.
A specialisation focused on the technologies of the industry of the future
“The global industry is undergoing a major transformation. Factories are becoming connected, machines are becoming intelligent, robots are working alongside humans, and artificial intelligence is being integrated directly into physical systems,” explains Swaminath Venkateswaran, a lecturer and researcher in mechatronics and head of the Industry & Robotics specialisation.
The specialisation trains engineers capable of designing, deploying and developing modern industrial systems in production or service environments, both in France and internationally.
Graduates tackle challenges involving robotics, automation, cyber-physical systems, the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT), digital twins and artificial intelligence applied to industrial processes.
Three complementary areas of focus for understanding industrial systems
The course is based on three main areas of study.
The first is devoted to smart manufacturing. The modules cover the digital transformation of factories, cyber-physical systems, the smart supply chain, production management and tools for connected industry.
The second area is dedicated to robotics and mechatronic systems. Students develop skills in industrial and mobile robotics, automation, systems control, cobotics and human-machine interaction.
Finally, the third module deals with artificial intelligence applied to industrial systems. Machine learning, computer vision, industrial data analysis and autonomous systems enable improvements in the perception, decision-making and optimisation capabilities of industrial equipment.
A teaching approach centred on experimentation
The degree programme places great emphasis on practical work and projects.
Students operate robotic arms, develop applications on TurtleBot3 mobile robots and work on collaborative systems incorporating augmented reality and human-machine interaction using Meta headsets.
They also use a range of software programmes widely used in industry:
- RoboDK;
- MATLAB;
- Simulink;
- 3DEXPERIENCE;
- Abaqus.
These tools enable students to carry out simulations, numerical modelling, digital twins and advanced analyses of complex industrial systems.
A gradual development of skills over two years
The programme takes place over the final two years of the engineering degree.
The first semesters allow students to consolidate their scientific foundations whilst introducing specialised modules: industrial automation, mobile robotics, systems engineering, hardware-software interfaces, supply chain management, production management, augmented reality, data analytics and mechatronics.
The course then becomes more technically advanced, covering robot dynamics, the Robot Operating System (ROS), embedded systems, applications of artificial intelligence in industry and the Internet of Things, game theory, industrial cybersecurity, Product Lifecycle Management (PLM), additive manufacturing and human factors.
The programme includes an intermediate work placement followed by a final-year work placement, combined with the final-year project.
Projects developed with industrial partners
The projects are directly linked to industrial challenges.
Achievements include the development of humanoid robots designed to assist waiters in restaurants, programmed using ROS, and work on human-robot collaboration.
Other projects focus on the creation of digital twins enabling the remote control of robotic arms designed to operate in sensitive environments, particularly in the nuclear sector.
The course also includes industrial visits, notably to Schneider Electric, as well as to the FANUC training centre in the Île-de-France region, to observe the practical applications of industrial robotics.
Partner companies also include Dassault Systèmes, Thales, Safran, Schneider Electric and Nexter, alongside several firms specialising in robotics and smart manufacturing.
Career prospects in numerous industrial sectors
The skills developed open the door to a wide range of roles, such as Industry 4.0 engineer, robotics engineer, mechatronics engineer, embedded systems engineer, embedded AI engineer, industrial IoT developer, computer vision specialist, predictive maintenance engineer, industrial transformation consultant or project manager for smart industrial systems.
The programme also offers several opportunities for dual degrees in France and abroad, notably with Grenoble École de Management, CentraleSupélec, Georgia Tech, Cranfield University, MCI Innsbruck, the University of Quebec and the University of Skövde.
Students thus develop their skills in an environment that combines scientific expertise, industrial technologies and an international outlook, with practical applications ranging from the connected factory to autonomous robotic systems.
More about ESILV’s Industry & Robotics major within the Master in Engineering
This post was last modified on 10 July 2026 7:17 pm