Vijay Alagappan A.

Mercedes-Benz Research and Development India Pvt. Ltd.

Senior CAE Analyst • Oct, 2016 — Present

I collaborate with design teams in parent headquarters in Germany to develop next generation architecture for EVs. I am creating Artificial Intelligence based applications to aid computer modelling and evaluation of crash safety using computer vision, deep learning and NLP algorithms. I also training engineers and an intern for automation using Python and Artificial Intelligence algorithms. I handled independent responsibility for evaluation of load-cases in pre-development stage. I trained new recruits for building simulation models and analysing results.

Mercedes-Benz Research and Development India Pvt. Ltd.

CAE Analyst • Feb, 2014 — Sept, 2016

I was responsible for setting up full vehicle simulations for new concepts in the pre-development stage. I was also responsible for setting up component/subsystem simulations and correlation with test results for research. I created Python scripts to automate manual and repetitive tasks. Overcame language barriers with engineers at parent R&D headquarters by taking up 5 German courses (Level B2.2).

Mercedes-Benz Research and Development India Pvt. Ltd.

Post Graduate Engineer Trainee • Jul, 2013 — Jan, 2014

As a post graduate trainee engineer, I received training in modelling and evaluating cars for crashworthiness. I learnt about the process of building crash simulation models, evaluation criteria for NCAP, regulations, etc. I got trained in tools like ANSA, Animator and LS-DYNA.

Udacity

Self-Driving Car Engineer Nanodegree @ School of Autonomous Systems • Ongoing

Learning to program various modules of a self-driving car such as Perception, Planning, Control and Integration. Course includes topics such topics such as Lane Finding, Behavioural Cloning, Traffic Sign Classification, Scene Understanding, Fully Convolutional Networks, Object Detection, Sensor Fusion and Localization (using Kalman Filters and Particle Filters), Path Planning, PID and Model Predictive Control, integration using Robot Operating System, Functional Safety

Indian Institute of Technology Madras

Master of Science (by Research) @ Dept. of Engineering Design • 2010 — 2014

Designed and developed a friction testing machine, worked on tyre mathematical models to help virtually prototype tyres at the Raghupati Singhania Centre of Excellence for Tyre and Vehicle Mechanics in collaboration with JK Tyre Post Graduate Placement Representative for my Department Teaching Assistant for UG courses on Vibrations, Automotive Engines Lab, Vehicle Dynamics Lab

Thiagarajar College of Engineering, Anna University

Bachelor of Engineering - Mechanical Engineering • 2006 & mdash; 2010

Proposed and tested a Magnetorheological Fluid based suspension system for motorcycles

Programming a real self-driving car - Capstone Project

Student, Team Lead • October 2019 — Present

This was the final Capstone project involving modules on perception, planning and control plus integration using Robot Operating System. I was the Team Lead for this project and I used this opportunity to learn planning and execution of a self-driving car software project at a small scale. It was also the first time I collaborated with other engineers on GitHub.

EV Architecture - New concept development

Senior CAE Analyst at Mercedes-Benz R&D India • June 2018 — April 2019

I was responsible for the evaluation of a critical crash load-case in the pre-development phase of a new electric vehicle architecture. I collaborated with design engineers and product managers in parent headquarters for the creation of a new EV (electric vehicle) Architecture. The simulations by my team helped to answer vital questions for shaping this new EV Architecture.

PoC for EV Battery under-side impact sensing using Raspberry Pi

Senior CAE Analyst at Mercedes-Benz R&D India • April 2018 — May 2018

Along with a teammate, I developed a proof of concept for detecting and identifying location and intensity of impact of road debris on the underside of EV battery. We used adxl345 accelerometers in i2c communication mode on a Raspberry Pi for this proof of concept.

Web app to learn German words

Developer • 2016 — 2017

I created this web app to help and motivate my colleagues learn German words since the primary language of communication in the parent firm headquarters was German. I used a rather old and outdated CGI scripting technology with Python, HTML, CSS and Javascript.

Artificial Intelligence/Machine Learning/Deep Learning.

3 years of experience in applying machine learning algorithms for simulation data analysis and assistance in building simulation models and evaluating results. Comfortable using scikit-learn,tensorflow and keras libraries.

Simulation Data Science

7 years of experience in working with huge amount of simulation data - generating, querying, analysing and visualizing them using Python libraries such as pandas, matplotlib

Product Development

9 years of experience in automotive product development as a student researcher in tyre industry and crash simulation engineer in OEM. Developed friction testing rig and a parameter identification software for tyre design. Collaborated with vehicle designers and product managers as one of the lead engineers for crash simulations on concepts for next generation EV Architecture.

Scientific Computing

10 years of experience in automotive structural simulations as a student researcher and industry professional using tools such as LSDYNA, Abaqus, ANSA and Animator.

Star Performer Award

Mercedes-Benz Research & Development India Pvt. Ltd. • 2019

for contributions made in the predevelopment stage of next generation EV Platform by independently handling a loadcase responsibility from India

Above and Beyond Call of Duty Award

Mercedes-Benz Research & Development India Pvt. Ltd. • 2017

for contributions to EV concept development project

Above and Beyond Call of Duty Award

Mercedes-Benz Research & Development India Pvt. Ltd. • 2014

for taking up 3 intensive German Language courses in a row and passing all of them with the requirements for an in-house Language Champion

Mr.Prahaar

Thiagarajar College of Engineering • 2009

for winning an intra-college management skills tournament with multiple rounds on problem solving, creative thinking, public speaking, group discussions, project management, presentation, etc.

Dept. of Engineering Design, IIT Madras

PG Students Placement Representative • 2012 — 2013

Represented the post graduate students in Dept. of Engineering Design at IIT Madras to help fellow students find jobs. Also, I helped visiting companies organize the placement tests and interviews.

TCE Cultural Club

Student Secretary - Literary Club, Quiz Club, Business English Club • 2009 — 2010

During my senior years at TCE, I was a secretary for the the literary and quiz club and organized literary events and quizzes to spot, recognize and reward talent. As Student Coordinator for the Business English Club, I helped my fellow students prepare for the Cambridge Business English Certificate Examinations.

NSS

Volunteer • 2006 — 2009

During my junior and senior years at TCE, I was an NSS volunteer and participated in local field work, awareness programs, etc.

• Reading - Science, Math, Technology, Business, People
• DIY Electronics, Coding
• Cooking, Music and Photography
• Bicycling, Cross-Fit training
• Computer and human languages

• Self Driving Car Engineer Nanodegree
• Mercedes-Benz Research & Development India Pvt. Ltd.
• Indian Institute of Technology, Madras
• Thiagarajar College of Engineering, Madurai (affiliated to Anna University, Chennai)