We grow when we face challenges

by Srivardhini Veeraragavan
School of Engineering

1. Tell us about this scholarship.

The Graduate Research Excellence scholarship is awarded to high-achieving students who pursue challenging and relevant topics to emerging technologies and research trends.

2. Why did you apply for this scholarship, and how did you choose your planned program of study?

The prospect of becoming an expert in Intelligent Vehicle Control and the excitement of getting to work on cutting-edge technology in Industry 4.0 gave me the motivation to undertake this PhD. I’ve always been interested in cars and robots as a child. My father is an engineer, and so was my grandfather, the first engineer in his village. I grew up watching my grandfather tinker with household appliances to customise their functionality according to his needs. He showed me that customisation could enhance the quality of our daily lives, and I realised that I also wanted to build custom versions of the machines around us - but on a larger scale.

During my Mechatronics Engineering undergraduate studies, I later learned that customising processes is a key concept in Big Data and Autonomous Robotics. I grew interested in the idea of Autonomous Vehicles - as a part of the bigger Smart City concept that many nations are progressing towards. I decided that I wanted to be a part of the Smart City revolution and contribute towards advancing this futuristic Self-Driving Car technology by doing something I’ve always enjoyed - customising machines; that is why I chose to embark on this PhD journey.

3. What do you hope to gain from the Monash experience?

Through the Monash Experience, I am getting the opportunity to work with industry-relevant cutting-edge technology and an excellent support system from my supervisors to guide me in the right direction in my research. I'm doing my PhD on Edge Intelligent Systems for Eco-Driving Optimization of Autonomous Vehicles. I'm working on improving Eco-Driving algorithms to lower carbon emissions and energy efficiency with the help of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Edge Systems.

4. How has the scholarship assisted you?

With this scholarship, I've supported myself and any extra equipment I need for my research. During the pandemic, I used to work long hours in front of my laptop at home because I could not go to the Lab (due to MCO), and I was suffering from severe postural issues, which hindered my work progress. The Graduate Research Excellence stipend was very valuable in supporting my needs for ergonomic WFH-friendly equipment (home office), which allowed me to recover quickly and resume working.