STATEMENT OF PURPOSE

My fondest memories that I still reminisce about are from the time I was five years old. I had
earned a reputation as ‘the go-to guy’ among the children of my age when something required fixing
as I used to mend toys in exchange for a very marginal fee. I understood little about what I was doing
or what my intentions were at the time, but the sheer joy of working independently on a problem,
which occasionally yielded results; kindled an ineffable exhilaration which was analogous to imbuing
life into something. My curiosity to grasp the scientific explanations behind my successful flukes
inspired me to take up engineering as a discipline.

As a bright student in school, I developed a keen aptitude for hands-on projects. Recognising
my ardent interests, my father introduced me to aeromodelling where I learnt fabricating, tuning
engines and electronic controls. Building model aeroplanes taught me the significance of patience and
meticulous attention to finer details. At the age of 14 working in my uncle's firearms customisation
factory, I had the opportunity to learn and perform machining operations on various conventional and
computerised machines. This augmented my passion and dedication for Mechanical Engineering
which drove me to learn reverse engineering techniques for designing intricate components using
high-end CAD/CAM software (Siemens NX). Having experienced working in an environment where
I could design, fabricate and test mechanisms, I realised the importance of possessing a strong
theoretical background for predicting outcomes using simulations; a skill which I ardently desired to
learn. This motivated me to pursue Mechanical Engineering for my Bachelor’s degree.

My undergraduate studies were a fulfilling experience. They introduced me to subjects like

Dynamics of Machines, Machine design, Fluid Mechanics, Thermodynamics, Mechatronics and
Robotics which widened my knowledge and stimulated my inquisitiveness. Besides my regular
classes, I relished lab-assignments which demanded the application of the theoretical aspects taught.
As a result, I stack up amongst the top 3% from a batch of 220 students. To satiate my passion for
hands-on work, I worked as a Design Engineer at Peerless Firearms Co. alongside my undergraduate
studies at full-course load. My duties included designing and using CAM to post-process CNC
programs and subsequently to perform operations on a CNC machine. During this prolific period, I
had the opportunity to learn advanced Class-A surface modelling and simulation techniques such as
Finite Element Analysis. Managing studies alongside work inculcated grit and a strong work ethic in
my character. Some of the notable projects I completed include the design of a 5-axis CNC for
machining firearm gunstocks, a hydraulic rifling machine and a unique reduction drive for deep-hole
gun drilling. Through these projects, I acquired the skill to research and adopted new methods and
grasped the importance of documenting my work which I now use to track and validate my
calculations and methods.

During my sixth semester, I had the opportunity to represent my university at the BAJA SAE
event as the Lead-Designer for the team. I was bestowed with the responsibility to design the BAJA
SAE vehicle and manage a group of 25 individuals. On the technical front, I designed and analysed
the chassis of the vehicle, optimised the suspension using motion simulations, designed a custom
wheel assembly and optimised the ergonomics of the vehicle using comfort analysis to aid the driver
for the long race. The most challenging aspect of the competition was meeting tight deadlines and
making sure the vehicle was designed according to the SAE guidelines.
 In my final year, I was fortunate to be selected from a pool of 60 candidates for an internship
in the R&D department at Kirloskar Brothers Limited. My project aim here was to research and
suggest geometric modifications to the pump-intake geometry using CFD flow simulations. The
criterion for flow optimisation was to reduce the magnitude of swirl produced inside the pump which
was extremely challenging to quantify. Additionally, to validate the CFD simulations I performed
experiments by fabricating a model geometry for which I utilised Multiphysics-FSI simulations. This
challenging research experience gave me a platform to acquaint myself with industrial engineering
practices and apprehend the nuances of inter-departmental managerial tasks which are essential for
the planning and execution of any project. Consequentially, I published my research outcomes for the
work I completed at Kirloskar in an International Journal.

Apart from academics, I have represented India as a member of the Indian Shooting
contingent for various international competitions. Playing and training for an Olympic sport has
taught me to perform under-pressure, time management, self-control and most importantly to not be
perturbed by failures and instead to embrace them as opportunities to learn.

I believe that a Mechanical Engineer of this era must also be adept with computer
programming and modern electronic control systems. It is this multidisciplinary aspect of Robotics
and Control systems that has enticed and motivated me to pursue a postgraduate degree. I secured
admission at the esteemed Indian Institute of Technology, Gandhinagar by attaining a 98 th percentile
rank in the entrance examination. Studying the arcane aspects of myriad robotic systems and their
pairing with a controls unit was a revelation into many of the modern-day industrial systems. Having
gained insight into the workings of serial robots and mobile robotic units, I found my niche in parallel
robots, which is the field I aspire to work in an industrial setting. The fact that these robots have
numerous assembly modes which do not yield to analytical solutions is what drives me to reach out
for an internship opportunity at ABB Robotics.

ABB Robotics is a pioneer in research and development of parallel robotic systems. This
internship will help me gain insight into the behaviour of a parallel robot near singular conditions and
will reveal the control algorithms used for such systems. The experience I gain at ABB Robotics as
an intern will enable me to continue my future work in a discipline for which I am incredibly
passionate for. I believe that the skills I have acquired over the years coupled with the rigorous
coursework at IITGN have prepared for the challenges I might face as an intern at your R&D facility.
Envisioning myself developing intricate and challenging robotic systems at ABB Robotics triggers
the same excitement and joy as that when I was a child mending toys. I am confident that with my
utmost sincerity and perseverance I will uphold the high standards expected from your enterprise.