Anirudha’s automobile engineering internship at ARAI
About the Author: Anirudha Gunjal, reminisces his internship journey with India’s best automobile designer, Mr. Dilip Chhabria (DC).
In this world full of competition, one really needs to be alacritic towards their field of interest. I have always had a keen interest in the automotive field. Hence, I made sure that I underwent all my internships related to my field of interest. Internships programs at various companies have surely helped me to bolster my skills and have fueled my passion further.
I got a chance to work with DC through my dad, who works with ARAI ( Automotive Research Association of India) – the only government body which is responsible for all the testing and approval of the vehicles which we see on the road. So, he got me in touch with the design head of the DC AVANTI project. He made sure that I contacted him in order to gain an opportunity to work at the DC Designs workshop. I emailed him all my details (my resume and portfolio which consisted mainly of automotive sketches and designs). In case you’re seeking a similar internship, make sure you have a content-rich CV, dedication, and passion.
It was the month of November 2014 when I did my first internship with the best automobile designer in India, Mr. Dilip Chhabria. It was the time when DC Avanti was being introduced to the people at Auto Expo, Delhi and was supposed to launch on-road the next year i.e 2015. Hence, it was an amazing experience to work at his factory. Since DC Avanti was in its initial phase of designing, I gained a plethora of knowledge on how to design a tubular chassis, the powertrain calculations, and the homologation process. In short, everything that one needs to know right from designing a vehicle to the process it has to go through during testing. During this internship, I came up with various designing ideas which I did get to implement. The engineers working at the factory were very friendly and always helped me out.
In August 2015, I got an opportunity to participate in an international level competition “BAJA SAE-2015-16”, where one had to design and manufacture an original off-road vehicle. The preliminary phase required one to show their vehicle designs and dynamics to automotive industry experts, after which their decision determined entry into the next stage. I utilized every bit of knowledge and skills that I had procured during my first internship with DC Design. The chassis which we designed was the lightest and strongest amongst all the first-time participants and weighed around 207kgs. We successfully cleared the preliminary round. Next was the manufacturing stage. During my internship at DC Design, I had keenly observed the manufacturing process of the vehicle, so I had very good knowledge of how and what exactly was to be done in order to get the vehicle up and running. Hence, it was time for my second internship at ARAI. At ARAI, I did an intensive internship program with the PID Department, which deals with only prototyping of the compo. I learned how to manufacture the components, TIG welding, the necessary processes and steps required to manufacture an error-free component etc. The experience was amazing. With the knowledge acquired there, I could manufacture the vehicle with 90-95% accuracy as per the design with the conventional tools that were provided by the Institute. And yes, we did qualify for the third and final stage which was the race. And trust me, we did very well considering that we were first-timers. My internship at ARAI was a huge success; it bolstered my manufacturing and prototyping skills. I can now design and manufacture an off-road vehicle!
After the competition, I had to focus both on my final year project. My final year project was sponsored by Cummins India Ltd., one of the leading manufacturers of generator engines, marine engines, and truck engines. The project had two stages – to get acquainted with the EURO VI emission norms and have good knowledge about the mechanical engineering subjects. It was tiring and soporific since we had to go through all the references regarding the regulations and subject study. The second part was exciting, wherein we designed an entire sampling line for engine test cells and a fixture to accommodate various engines which are to be tested in the test cells. It was a meaningful experience to work on a project, which is supposed to be implemented in India only after 2020. The opportunity was exhilarating.
It was a tough and interesting project; I used to spend 15-16 hours of my day coming up with the best design solutions. My manager observed my dedication and hardworking. Hence, he offered me a paid internship Cummins India Ltd. As of now, I have completed three projects in two months, namely – Inventory design for test cells, Engine mounting plate for NORCO stands, and ducts designing.
My earlier internship with ARAI and DC Design have surely shaped my career and bolstered my technical knowledge. Lastly, my advice for all the future interns would be to work hard, eat right, and achieve your dreams!
Editor’s Note – To gain an internship experience as awesome as Anirudha’s, check out these awesome automobile engineering internships.
