In today's fast paced world of technology, scientific refinements are being done everyday. The result has been the transformation of conventional machines into productively sophisticated one's, which are versatile to distinctive approaches. Research in Robotics, Control Systems and Automation has change the way we interact with the world around us. To stay ahead in the fast changing world, one requires the ability to look beyond present. My country, India is also cought in the web of " Change " creating exciting ample opportunities for youngsters.
But the potential to match international parameters is the vital need of the present and future ( hour ). This has stimulated me to pursue Robotics and Automation program at Conestoga College. I want to grow in challenging field of Automation and its related industries. Education at this institute will equip me to keep pace with technological advancements.
Born in family where most of the male members are serving in core organisations, there has been an environment of technical skills around me. My father works as technician in Elcom Private Sytems, soldering electronics components on chip boards. I saw him rectifying electronic gizmos, repairing household appliances ( refrigerator, cieling fans, washing machine, dish antenna) and servicing his own's vehicles. I used to assist him by keeping screws at safer place, passing soldering iron, mechanical tools and pumping air in tyres of vehicles. My nature was like watching him closely as how he identifies problem and repairs it. Noticing the way he opens equipments, I would implement the same logic onto my toys getting tiny motors and LED's out and then running them individually. One of my favourite activity was to make a small paper fan and fixing it infront of toy motor to get it rotate using cells. This made me very excited about logic behind their operation. However, I was good in diassmebling only and it was hard for me to fit toys back as they were. I used to study and doing odd thing sitting in lab room full of unused motors, wires, mechanical parts of vehicles, electronic chip boards. As a kid, I remember gathering up couarge, to ask my father, to use his tools for soldering wires onto the terminals of battery, so as to light up bulbs or inserting testing screwdriver into electricity supply boards observing whether red light glows or not ? For me it was fantastic and full of excitement.
Because of such experiences, I had a penchant towards mathematics, science and technical skills right from my school days. This introductory wisdom stimulated me to take mathematics, physics and chemistry as major subjects in high school. I was fascinated by the terms electricity, Coulomb's Law, Newton's, Potential Difference , principles of electrical machines and wanted to study more about these in detail. Consequently, because of my special interest and aupport given by parents, I decided to move step ahead in field of Electrical and Electronics Engineering. This helped me to understand the interaction between different core areas of engineering. My awe and enthusiasm jacked up after witnessing various components when assembled in a systematic arrangement becoming alive. Subjects like advance Mathematics, Power Electronics, Power Systems 1&2, Electronic Devices and Circuits, Digital Electronics, Microprocessor, Microcontroller, Programmable Logic Controllers further divulged me to infinite horizons in the department of Electrical and Electronics Engineering.
However, to understand subjects in thorough, lectures were not suffecient and It was important to experience actually how does the electrical system works ? For this, I did 2nd year's 6 weeks training in 66kv Punjab State Electrical SubStation under the guidance of Junior Engineer Surinder Singh. Faculty there explained me about functioning of transformers, feeders, types of transmission & distribution lines, circuit breakers, relays and fuse installed inside the panel to protect equipments. They introduced me, how automation techniques in power generation and distribution stations are transforming conventional machines into automatic sophisticated one's upgrading the effeciency, productivity and operating management of system.
Because of my punctuality and desire to learn, Sub Divisional Officer gave me an opportunity to visit Bhakhra Nangal Dam, one of the India's oldest Hydro Power Plant built on river Satluj. It was a 1day tour fully funded by government. That day, training team took us to operation department where SCADA ( Supervisory Control And Data Acquisition ) technology is employed for starting and the shutting down sequences of plant under normal-emergency conditions, live status of spillways, turbines, boilers and generating station. Technology enables monitoring the operations in real time, making modifications to the the system, auto generating reports and troubleshooting in accordance with PLC and HMI. It was unbelieveable to experience as how programmed computers are governing entire system's control and remote operations of hydro plant.
As my interest for this particular specialisation was building up, the subject named Microcontroller and PLC taught by Ms. Supreet Kaur in 3rd ywar was blessing in disguise to my curiousity. I learnt about History-Architecture of PLC, Data Handling, PLC Analog Functions and Intermediate Functions. It was impressive, as how hand sized PLC's were replacing hardwired relay logic system in industries, increasing speed of work after being programmed as per required output. However, it was just an introductory portion about automation, but still it motivated me enough to research more regarding mechanization through self study. I spent extra hours on internet, questioning google, watching videos on youtube and reading blogs of experts. Besides this I started watching T.V programme called " Factory Made " on discovery channel which shows why modern day industries are prefering Automation instead of labour force.
Such experiences encouraged my imagination of creativity.
As my first venture, I made a project named " Thermal Protection Of Transformer " in order to exemplify the working of automation. Basic idea behind this was to save electrical transformers from getting damaged because of high temperatures caused by heavy loads or system's failure. It was devised using microcontroller, step down transformer, bridge rectifier, solid state relay, contactors and thermal sensors. As the temperature of transformer increases beyond reference value, the thermal sensor gets activated and thus acting as input to cooling fan. This fan fixed infront of device starts rotating and once the temperature reaches beyond reference after getting cooled, sensor gets deactivated ensuring increased accuracy and safety to costly electrical equipments.
It was at this juncture after which I personally felt the need to learn programming industrial computers ( PLC ). As a part of field study, I had opportunity to undergo training at Wonders Automation Private Limited, company doing panel assembling and providing automation solutions to manufacturing industries. In these six months, apart from understanding the theoratical concepts, I programmed many tasks ranging from moving conveyor belts, two way switches, automatic door system, toll plaza barrier, and traffic lights system. As a part of core subjects, I had hand on experience in operating AC/DC Drives and Wiring Electrical Panels. I worked on Kinco and Gefanuc Brand softwares using Logic Gates, Memory Bits, Timers-Counters and finally understood Troubleshooting and Debbuging entire system. Beacuse of my association with Electrical and Electronics devices, I was able to have a good grasp of the subject.
Finally, as my association with automation got strengthened, it became possible to develop my ideas and transforming them into live projects. So, as a part of training, I made 1major project i.e Fully Automatic Underground Parking System using HMI and Ladder Logic Language. Talking about description of project - Intially two barrigades were installed, one on ground level and other at underground level. As soon as, a vehicle enters from ground level, the proximity and motion sensors installed will activate red light at underground. This light will remain constant till a vehicles moves in corridor before it reaches underground level. Once, it crosses those barrigades, the sensors installed at lower floors will activate green lights of same level and red light for ground level barrigades. This project was for single way corridor. But later, I programmed this into two way corridors, so as to decrease the complexity and moving traffic without any delay. In addition, counters were used giving information about number of parking slots empty or used using sensors. Entire project was made on Kinco Brand PLC and HMI. Finally, I visualised my work connecting HMI to class projector. At the end, my project recieved great response and appreciation from college teachers and other students. Ultimately, I was rewarded for the sleepless nights and hard work done, as I scored 94% ( 705 out of 750 ) in my final semester. ( 8th semester Mark Sheet )
Though, I have studied little bit about automation during graduation studies, but still lot more is to be done. This is an era of globalisation, specialization in more than one area has become must. Interested to understand rapid developement in the field of science and technology, I do not want to limit myself in programming PLC's only. " I need to learn more ". For me what goes inside the system, at the core, down to the electrons and how to produce my own working systems, has become personal goal in life. To make my dream true, am prepared to plenary enter into the field of Robotics and Automation. In addition to the 6 months internship, recently I have finished diploma in product designing. Here, I learnt Computer Aided Designs (CAD/CAM) and foundamentals of Solid Works. This will give strength to my knowledge before I start with my further studies. Through this I want to take up an exacting position, both in academic as well as industry, where I can do experiments independently and can create new standards in automation. Having these long term goals in mind, my immediate objective is to work towards post graduate level course, whose importance in laying a strong foundation for a successful career is paramount. Thus, my research led me to the two year program in Robotics and Industrial Automation ( Post Graduate ) at Conestoga College, Cambridge, Canada. Conestoga is Ontario's fastest growing college and recognized leader in engineering education. Situated in Waterloo Region well known as " Canada's Technology Triangle " is a place with diverse culture, rewarding talent, innovation, technology and is centre of excellence for the last 20 years. RIA program in Conestoga has been structured to provide students with both theoratical and practical experience in developing in computer-aided design, mechanical technology, electric motors, servo-mechanisms, robotics, industrial automation.
Also, this program has a Cooperative Education( Co-Op ) as an option. Through this, I will actually gain professional experience working in industries hand in hand with my studies which will enhance my learning to another degree. The outcomes of my learning will empower me to use electronic components & integrated circuits for control circuits, programming Allen Bradley PLC-5 & Siemens S7 PLC, creating modest applications using Visual Basics Programming, developing HMI's for PLC, use of Robots in industries, Servo Control algorithms and Advanced Solid Modelling for designing products. The areas of study dealt with Conestoga's RIA program as well as the new subject Fluid Power recently added up by their faculty are perfectly conductive to my goals, both intellectual and practical. One of the most important feature about this program is related to Safety Standards. This will familiarize me with techniques necessary to develop factory machine designs to meet Canadian Safety criteria and current machinery safety related standards which is the most critical precaution to be taken care of while working with robots. This program will not only polish my ELectrical-Electronics skills, but also introduce me to the Mechanics and Conputer-Networking Systems.
The main purpose of my visit to Canada is absolutely for higher education and to upgrade my knowledge and skills to level of International students. After 2 years, this study will euip me with strong technical as well as energetic support, because of which I can become good organiser to do something in Robotics and Mechanisation department.
As industrial environment is becoming more advanced and connected, automation technology is developing at a rapid pace. To deliver the communication features and intelligence required at the plant floor and beyond, developers need solutions. This will open employement opportunities in following areas :
Building Automation
Factory Automation
Lightining and Illumination
Medical, Health Care and Fitness
Motors Drive and Control
Smart Grids and Energy
Space, Aviation and Defence Purposes
Testing and Meauserements
Product Designing
And much more..
In addition, am confident about myself contributing significantly to any research team, given the chance. Foremost, to me, is the opportunity to gain knowledge and then coupling it with my own thoughts to create novel and significant. I am looking forward to this very opportunity to ultimately make that difference.
Apart from academics, am working as volunteer in Punjab Welfare and Cultural Society for theast 5 years, helping poor people in need. This is what I have learnt from my parents. We organize sports tournaments, cultural events, promoting girl education, awaring people about health hazards through seminars, organising blood donation camps. Through this I have learnt helping society, interacting with different community people and cooperating as a team member. Including this my hobby is to participate in different sports activities to keep myself physically and mentally fit. Training in sports taught me the value of discipline, rigrous practice and teamwork. There was a time when I went down in the dumps with a defeat in matches. But coaches taught me to stand again after every fall, which helped me to face setbacks with smile and the ability to ' try again and again '. In addition, I love driving cars for long hours, visiting new places and understanding different cultures. I feel happy in motivating youngsters and giving them right advice of following a right path to make their dreams true. My younger brother was very passionate about joining Armed Forces from his school days. Though entire hard work is done by him only, but my role was to be as a support to him 24/7 hours. Because of his passion and will to make his dream true, he is now working in Indian Navy.
In the end, I sincerely hope that my dedication towards excellence in whatever I do, alongwith my academic records, qualify me for study visa to your country. I am looking forward to create my own niche in the international family of students. I believe that every experience will add to my all around education and prepare me for the future.
Its my humble request to Canadian High Commision to consider my candidature and grant me study visa.
Thanks
Gagandeep Singh
