Doctor.

Professor, let us assess your expertise in the field. Could you elaborate on how you would establish a foundational understanding of automotive systems for students new to the field?

Yes, automotive systems request understanding of various systems in automotive like suspension system, steering system, engines and also other control systems. I elaborate the students on the very clear understanding of how the suspension works, what are the various types and why those types are there how the evolution has happened in the history from.

One type of system to the other type of system. So all these things will help the students give a clear understanding on the way forward.

You touched on several critical aspects. How would you ensure that students grasp not just the mechanical and historical evolution of these systems, but also the integration of modern technologies, such as mechatronics or autonomous elements?

Every system in the history, it started with purely mechanical and now in recent trend, it is a purely A mechatronic system which involves sensors, actuators and other key control elements. So whenever I discuss with the students about a particular topic, for instance, if you take a suspension system, we have an active suspension system and we have a passive suspension system. In active suspension system if you take.

We have the dampers which can be controlled depending on the driving conditions. So by understanding the driving scenarios one will be able to control the tamping coefficient of the damper and this will give a better ride effort. So I teach the students that in order to control the damper you need to have a control system proper which in turn will have. A. Serious inputs like inputs sensors into the control system.

And the control system will even output which is nothing but the actuator and it is going to control the system. So I allowed whatever the topics I take, I elaborate how initially it was in the history and how as days goes on it is evolving and how the technology comes into picture and how the integration of several.

Systems like electrical and electronic systems into the conventional system is needed so all.

All these things are very clearly elaborate by students.

Understood, Professor. You’ve emphasized the historical evolution and integration of modern mechatronics into traditional systems while maintaining clarity for students. Now, how would you approach teaching these advanced concepts in a way that balances theory and hands-on laboratory work?

Yes, that's a very interesting thing. You know, uh, teaching, uh, very basic concepts, uh, are very, uh, easy, but, uh, when it comes to complex concepts like you mentioned, it requires some usage of tools. Generally what I do is I use the simulation tools, uh, which I am expertise in, uh, for instance, I use Simulink and Simscape environment from the.

Matlab tool. So these tools I use to help them understand a particular concept. For for instance, when I teach control systems, there is an important topic called as PID but proportional, integral and derivative. So in that what is the influence of the proportion, what is the influence of the integral and what is the influence of the derivative. So all these things are very, very essential. So these things we can piece on board but to make them.

Understand very clearly we need to emphasize more on the usage of the modern tool. I use the MATLAB tool, I vary the proportional, I vary the integral and I vary the derivative and I see how my system is getting responded to that. So that is one key aspect how I help students in understanding the complex concepts.

Thank you, Professor. Your method of combining theoretical foundations with simulation tools like MATLAB is clear. It provides an active learning approach. Let us proceed. How have you handled the challenge of evaluating students' understanding effectively, especially in a blend of theory-based and practical courses?

What I do is for my students generally IQ assignments see assignments in the sense.

I give a complex problem which is really relevant to the real scenario and I give them the task and I help. I ask them to do it in the software and then I ask them to give us detailed report, a project report on what they are understanding, What are the input parameters? What are the output parameters? What are the control parameters? So why?

They wanted to control it. For what reason they wanted to control it and how? What are the inputs and why those inputs are there? So such kind of detailed things. I look at the report and I also asked them to submit the MATLAB original file. So I look at the MATLAB original file. So it is a team project wherein I involve multiple students, around 3 to 4 students in a particular thing and I give them the assignment. So assignment is something.

Not like a conventional one but it is a project based assignment under a simulation based assignment so wherein the students can work in their premises and then submit it.

Understood, Professor. Your approach of using project-based assignments and simulation-model assessments ensures a comprehensive understanding of both theory and application. Let us delve further into your contributions. Could you expand on how you’ve guided student projects and research efforts, particularly in the context of innovative automotive technologies?

Since my inception in PhD, I Tech Assistant professor in 2016, I am mentoring students in various vehicle development projects like Formula Bharat which is a development of formula style race car and Baja which is a development of altering vehicle and the electric go Kart. And now recently with the technology now it is autonomous Baja. So it is an autonomous vehicle. So I started my journey.

Mentoring students in electric vehicle and now I'm moving into the latest technology of autonomous vehicle. So I really guide the students I evaluate their design reports, I evaluate their simulation reports. I give them meaningful feedbacks. I support the students uh, in.

Getting the funds from the management whenever required, I convinced the managements.

To what extent the management can support and also whenever any testing is required. I support the students in connecting them with the industry and also I support them with getting the necessary lab equipments for their project also. Not only this, I also handle courses for them, specialist courses for them because which is not in their curriculum. I teach them vehicle dynamics using MATLAB. For selected students who are working in the vehicle dynamics area because.

Vehicle dynamics is my expertise so I teach them the core fundamental concepts because vehicle dynamics is the core for any vehicle development. So I teach them the vehicle dynamics so that the better understand the concepts and utilize them effectively. And also I teach them MATLAB for a brief time but it is for them to explore further and dwell deeper and then apply it for their project. Thank you.

Thank you, Professor. Your involvement in mentoring students through innovative automotive projects, along with teaching specialized courses, showcases your deep commitment to fostering both technical expertise and practical innovation. Allow me to proceed to the next area of focus. Your publication record appears strong. Could you share how your research publications contribute to advancing knowledge in mechanical engineering, and how they influence your teaching and guidance approach?

See my very recent I I would like to discuss about my recent research work. So my recent research work is on.

Curvature continuous trajectory refinement so where in I formulated a path smoothening framework and this really improves the right comfort while negotiating a curve in autonomous vehicle. So this is something that I recently worked along with the set of company one of the core engineer who is working in automated parking system so he is also the co-author for that particular paper and we.

And, uh, successfully, uh, uh, published it online in SA International. So you can see the practical relevance how it is, uh, uh, connected to the modern world where and we are moving more towards autonomous. So there are really several challenges in reality when moving in autonomous in terms of vehicle behavior, in terms of comfort to the passengers and all the other things. So one such thing is the. Ride comfort while negotiating a car is something that we have taken and we had.

Analyst it in detail and we gave a solution for that. The second thing is, uh, second research article that we recently worked on is uh, the adapt integration of the adaptive cruise control and the bilateral cruise control. So this work was sexually done to predict the intuitive vehicle behavior and also to reduce the traffic congestion.

So traffic congestion is something that is very.

While developing the autonomous vehicle, so you are not focused on the lead vehicle but also you should focus on the vehicle that is traveling at the back of you. So adaptive cruise control focus only on the lead vehicle but it doesn't focus on the vehicle that is travelling back which creates the traffic congestion. So in order to reduce that be introduced by.

Important to study.

Natural police control which is BCC and this really has a very good remark. So we came up with a very good results that is reducing the traffic congestion and this work is also successfully presented in the SEAT conference and which was globally accepted.

So these are the two major things that we recently worked and when you asked how this.

Research work influences your teaching and learning process, and I would like to say that.

For these research work, some of my students were also involved in this research work. So I'm happy to share that. And when I when I teach subject like vehicle dynamics, you know there is something algorithm called SPO persist algorithm.

And kinematics model. So all these kinematics model and pure posit algorithm was modeled, mathematically modeled and simulated in the MATLAB environment in the research article that we did and also further we are planning to. Simulate. Do the hardware and then test it in the real time. So all these things will also help me in the way I teach, in the way I.

Deliver the lecture and uh, way I in which the students get, uh, attached to the subject. So thank you.

Thank you, Professor. Your research, particularly in path smoothing for autonomous vehicles and integrated cruise control systems, demonstrates a strong synergy between advanced study and practical application. It's evident that your work significantly enhances the depth of understanding for your students, bridging theoretical learning with real-world innovation. Let us now examine your contributions to industry consultancy and projects. Could you elaborate on any notable consultancy experience or partnership with the industry, emphasizing how it aligns with your academic endeavors?

Yes.

Yes, I I collaborate with the few notable industries like JM Automotive, Argo High dose. So for instance in Argo Itos, our goal was to develop a semi automated stamping station in that my job rule was to develop a automated pneumatic control system. So that was my focus. I wanted to choose the proper sensor.

An actuator to check the.

Bypass wall opening, whether it is opened or not I need to check it. So for that I need to choose the appropriate sensor and actuator. So that consultancy project was worth 15,00,000 and we are currently doing it. And second thing is like I worked closely with DRDL, so government organization and we worked on a project called.

This developing material database for finite element building simulation.

So when we we tested the material setup different.

Different temperatures, for instance, from 20°C to around 1000°C, still it's melting point. We tested the material for different material properties so that the same can be used for building because in building vehicles subject to high temperature. And also currently I am in discussion with the Center for Advanced Automotive Research at IIT Madras.

For a problem statement related to dial so and apart from the consultancy I'm also actively involved in training. So in consultancy I've generated a total project worth of around 20,00,000 and in training I am generating more than around 5 to 7,00,000 in training in areas like pneumatic control system, hydraulic control systems and also vehicle dynamics.

And model based system design using MATLAB municipal link. So these are some of the areas. And apart from that I'm also closely working with Mathworks in developing developing a content for pneumatic control systems in MATLAB using Simscape fluids. So these are things that I'm currently working with.

Thank you, Professor. Your involvement in industry-relevant projects, such as the semi-automated stamping station and material database for high-temperature applications, alongside your collaborations with leading organizations like DRDL and IIT Madras, showcases a strong connection between academia and industry needs. You’ve highlighted your contributions not only in consultancy but also in training, underscoring your ability to bridge theoretical knowledge with practical skills. Let me proceed to the next evaluation objective. How do you ensure effective communication and a structured approach in your teaching, particularly when dealing with multidisciplinary or complex mechanical engineering topics?

See. Uh, I try to uh.

I tried to connect the dots. See, connecting the dots is something that is very, very important. When you don't know to connect the dots, you're not going to get something very useful. So what I do is like I try to decompose the entire system, like a complex system into very small subsystems and comprehend level. And then I try to.

And what is the function of that individual component and how it is connected to the main system and the CL? A main system will have an important function and subsystem and the component level it will have another function. These functions are targeted to targeted to solve the function of the main system. So I tried to connect all these dots and make the students understand clearly what is the way forward for them.

Uh, make them understand what an individual component does.

Thank you.

Remember what you said.

CEO My my PhD work is on model based system design to predict fuel economy in a 2 Wheeler vehicle using a model based system simulation approach and my research interest is on model based system simulation predicting vehicle performance, vehicle dynamics controls and vehicle behavior. So these are connected with.

Of course, Professor. Let’s continue. Could you explain how your educational background and your ongoing PhD work contribute to your expertise in mechanical engineering and your teaching philosophy?

My PhD work and.

This is very relevant to the automobile and I am more passionate in automobile so all these things are connected. Thank you.

Thank you, Professor. Your PhD work in model-based systems design, along with your focus on vehicle dynamics, performance, and behavior, showcases a strong alignment with your passion for automotive engineering and its integration into your teaching. Let me now verify the final area. Could you elaborate on your publication experience, specifically in terms of publishing in reputed journals and its relevance to advancing both research and classroom instruction?

See how publishing in a reputed journal is something.

Very.

Tedious process I I happily go through that process and I feel all the reviews given by the reviewers are taken meticulously and.

It is given back in the article in the right way. The article is restructured. And see, I try to tell this to my students like you know, so whenever they come up with some article, I review that article.

I give it back to them saying that this is how the uh.

Journal article processes. So you cannot simply publish in a high quality journal without a structured review, very strong review, very strong comments. So you need to answer all those things in a very effective way without which the publication is not possible so.

My ideology of publication and experience is that every question posted by the research has to be taken very seriously, gone through it meticulously and keep working on day by day, give a detailed thought process or thought process something very very important for any research. So I.

Also share the same with my students. So when you are in the thought process.

The answers come in seamlessly, so thought process is something that is very important and that is what I shared with students.

Understood, Professor. You’ve clearly articulated the diligence and dedication required to publish in reputed journals and how you instill the importance of a structured and thorough research mindset in your students. This undoubtedly adds significant value to their academic and research development. At this point, I have gathered the information required. Allow me a moment.

Professor, to begin, could you share with me a foundational concept in mechanical engineering that you particularly enjoy teaching, and why it resonates with you?

See, I really like to teach the concept of.

Uh, the foundational forces that are happening in the tyre, see tyre is one thing which connects the.

Car and the road so without the tire, even if you wish to steer the vehicle, even if you steer the vehicle, if the tire is not responding properly then the vehicle is not going to move in the right direction. So I fundamentally teach them what are the various important force that are acting on the tire like the lateral force, the longitudinal force and the vertical force. So all these things they also study in vehicle dynamics. But here I make them very clearly understand practically what is the longitudinal force, how it is generated, what is lateral force and.

Generator. What is the vertical force out is generated and what how these forces can be effectively controlled for a better?

Moment of the vehicle. So all these things are very clearly deliberate. Thank you.

Thank you, Professor. Understanding the dynamics and forces at play in something as practical and essential as a tire is indeed a critical concept for students in mechanical engineering. Let's proceed.

Professor Senthil Vel, your resume mentions your role as a faculty advisor for multiple remarkable projects involving electric propulsion and automation. I'd like to focus on your work related to the Electric Formula Style Racing Car developed for Formula Bharat. Could you elaborate on the research approach and the methodologies you employed in guiding this project? How did you integrate research outcomes into the development process?

Our scheduled time for the interview is now up. Before we conclude, do you have any questions related to the role or the company?

See, uh, uh, I would like to know, uh, I, I, I, I'm just wondering like, uh, in automotive Research Center. So what is something that it is expected out of me in arc because they say it is a research position. I was called in HR and they mentioned me. It was a research position. So I wanted to know. What exactly is the difference between the research position and the faculty position?

So could you please celebrate me on that?

Yes, thank you for elaborating. So it is very clear for me right now, Yeah.

Certainly, Professor. Based on the job details, both the research position and the faculty position focus on advancing knowledge in mechanical engineering, but their emphasis differs. In a research position within the Automotive Research Center (ARC), your focus will primarily be on: - Conducting high-impact research in automotive systems and related technologies. - Developing new methodologies, systems, or solutions in areas like vehicle dynamics, electric propulsion, or automation. - Publishing findings in respected journals and possibly obtaining patents for your innovations. - Driving interdisciplinary or funded research projects that involve collaborating with industry partners or other academic departments. - Enhancing the institution's research profile, particularly in cutting-edge automotive advancements. In contrast, a traditional faculty role often balances teaching responsibilities, student mentoring, and research: - You would conduct classroom and laboratory sessions, ensuring curriculum delivery and student engagement. - Mentorship roles extend into guiding student projects or providing career and academic advice. - Research still plays a role, but it usually complements teaching rather than taking the lead. Therefore, a research position leans heavily on innovation and knowledge creation, whereas a faculty position emphasizes a blend of pedagogy, mentorship, and research. However, strong teaching and mentoring abilities remain critical to both, as research outcomes are often integrated into educational activities to inspire and guide students. Would this distinction align with your aspirations, or is there a specific area you'd like me to elaborate upon?

I'm glad that helped, Professor. If you have any more questions or need further clarification about the role or expectations, feel free to let me know.

Yeah, so, uh.

I'm very happy today. So having discussed with you for a very long time, so you had a wonderful questions and hope I gave you some meaningful responses and I am happy to work in VIP. So if given an offer and I hope and strongly believe that I can create some.

Meaningful value with whatever the experience that they had in the past for the last 10 years. So I'm hoping to contribute in the much best way possible and I'm sure both Vit and myself will grow together. Thank you.

Thank you, Professor Senthil Vel. It was a pleasure discussing your expertise and experiences. Your enthusiasm and commitment to making a meaningful impact are evident. I appreciate your thoughtful responses, and I wish you the very best in your future endeavors. Have a great day!

Time is up! Ending the interview now.