All of this started with a single make-athon, where I as a freshman was introduced to the world of Formula Student(FS). Their events were inspiring, work was hands on and passion for engineering at an all time high. It was a combustion vehicle team back in 2019 when I joined and little did we know that I would be the pivoting point in the team's transition to electric.
In my first year, I was tasked with manufacturing of the uniquely designed locked differential (Spool) and tuning of a KTM 390 engine. During manufacturing, it was all hands on deck as we were building the entire tubular space frame chassis in-house. This involved cutting of the tubes, profiling and welding while being held at an appropriate angle using jigs and fixtures. Formula Bharat 2020 (FS India) was a highly enriching experience where we learned everything through hands-on practice. Unfortunately, Covid hit right after that and my team found this to be the perfect time to switch to an electric vehicle team.
Here, I was in-charge of the electric powertrain which involved energy calculations using Laptime simulations and motor selection based on required torques on various events. The drivetrain assembly and various mechanical supports were also a part of my design. Considering my technical acumen and man management abilities, I was made team captain for the 2021-22 season. With the goal for manufacturing and a strong design in mind, I was tasked to solve issues pertaining multiple subsystems & procurement. During my captaincy, the team rose from 35+ ranks in 2020 to 4th overall in 2022. We also won 1st place in Software, 2nd in Business Plan and 4th in Engineering Design, this was based on our presentations, FMEA reports and proposed business plans in the event.
I strongly believe that FS has shaped the professional side of my personality to be a problem solver with a system level perspective. I can get into technical details with mechanical design & powertrain and at the same time predict future problems for a product as a whole. If given the opportunity, I could just go on and on about this one, so in the interest of pausing somewhere, let me stop here.