PIX2 2026: over 500 students involved in autonomous SUMO robots

The Project Imagination and Exploration 2 (PIX2) brought together more than 500 ESILV students in Paris and Nantes to tackle a robotics challenge. Over several months, the teams designed, programmed and tested autonomous SUMO robots before presenting their creations at the final showcase.

PIX2 is a key milestone in the ESILV Master’s Degree in Engineering – Grande Ecole Programme. Organised as part of the integrated foundation year, this scientific and technical project enables students to put the knowledge they have acquired across several disciplines into practice whilst developing their project management skills.

A robotics project running throughout the academic year

The 2026 edition of PIX2 took place between September 2025 and May 2026. More than 500 students, divided into groups of six in Paris and Nantes, worked on designing an autonomous SUMO robot in collaboration with the DaVinciBot association.

The aim was to develop a robot capable of identifying an opponent in a combat arena, pushing it and then forcing it out of the playing area, whilst adhering to a set of specifications defined in advance.

This project drew on several areas of expertise covered in the general engineering programme: mechanics, electronics, embedded computing, automation and robotics strategy.

Designing a fully functional prototype from start to finish

Throughout the project, the teams followed the various stages of a complete technological development process.

The first phase focused on the robot’s mechanical design. The students then worked on the electronic integration, the selection of components and the assembly of the various systems.

Programming the sensors and motors enabled the robots to operate autonomously. The teams also devised combat strategies to optimise their prototype’s performance in the arena.

Beyond the technical aspects, PIX2 involves collective organisation over several months. Schedule management, task allocation, budget monitoring and team coordination are integral parts of the project.

The PIX2 2026 showroom as the culmination of the project

The final showroom marked the conclusion of several months’ work. Each team presented their robot and scientific poster to a panel tasked with assessing the technical and methodological quality of the projects.

The presentations provided an opportunity to outline the design choices, the results achieved, and the solutions implemented to address the constraints of the challenge.

The day continued with a SUMO robot competition organised with the support of DaVinciBot. The robots competed in several arenas to determine the teams’ rankings based on their performance in real-world conditions.

Four awards presented to the teams

The awards ceremony was hosted by Pascal Pinot, ESILV Dean. The awards recognised teams whose projects stood out for their technical performance, the quality of their execution, their scientific approach, or their results in the SUMO robot competition.

Several prizes were awarded during the exhibition to highlight different aspects of the project.

• The Scientific Rigour Award was presented to Team 103, comprising Sofiane Fecih, Victor Feraille, Siméon Férard, Maël Fortin, Stanislas Nollet and Eléna Gerbi.

• The Technological Innovation Award was presented to Team 154, comprising Matthieu Micheau, Gaétan Monnier, Elisa Moreau-Daumann, Emilie Moreve, Maxime Motallebi and Virgile Mouton-Pronost.

• The Best Produtcion Award was presented to Team 126, comprising Raphaelle Berreby, Chaima Bouaiche, Mathis Boulestin, Alexandre Brégou and Hippolyte Cornu-Thenard.

• Finally, the Combat Award for Excellence went to Team 117, comprising Radu Chitescu, Mathys Delory, Mohamed Ferrag, Clément Gavrel and Lorenzo Godingei.

A learning project within the integrated foundation course

The Project Imagination and Exploration 2 takes place during the second year of ESILV’s integrated foundation course. Its aim is to enable students to design and create an innovative product by drawing on their scientific, technical and organisational skills.

Through this project, participants gain hands-on experience of the various stages involved in developing a complex system, from the initial design phases through to real-world testing. This project-based approach is one of the hallmarks of ESILV’s engineering programme.

More about the Master’s Degree in Engineering – Grande Ecole Programme at ESILV