Engineering students in Amiens, France, are leveraging artificial intelligence to tackle a time-consuming task for potato growers: counting tubers. Responding to a proposal from Arvalis, an applied research institute serving the agricultural sector, two students at the UniLaSalle campus are developing a system to automate this process. Currently, manually counting potatoes consumes valuable time that farmers could dedicate to other essential activities. The innovative solution involves a camera, a light sensor, and specialized software that uses AI to track and calibrate each tuber before tallying them. This technology promises to streamline post-harvest operations and significantly improve efficiency for producers.
The student engineers emphasize that their goal is not to replace the human element on the farm but to create a harmonious partnership between new technology and agriculture. The system is designed to enhance the quality of selected produce by ensuring accurate calibration, while the farmer remains in control. Although the machine is still in the prototype stage, the successful application of AI to this task opens the door to solving similar challenges across other agricultural sectors. For the students, the project provides invaluable hands-on experience in teamwork, project management, and mastering new tools—skills that will serve them well as they enter the workforce and continue to innovate at the intersection of technology and farming.
