A joint venture between Amrita University, India and supplier Automotive Test Systems, will see the development of the Amrita Automotive Research and Technology Center (AARTC). This US$2.4m facility, headquartered in Coimbatore, will assist the automotive industry in areas including vehicle evaluation, vehicle cooling and HVAC studies, road load data acquisition, emissions, simulation – structural and CFD, and multibody dynamics etc.
AARTC will also facilitate the doctoral and postgraduate students of the university to gain hands-on experience by giving them an opportunity to participate in live research projects aimed at developing technologies for the government and industry.
Prof Parameswaran, director, corporate and industry relations said, “The AARTC is a clear manifestation of the university’s focus on research and innovation that will enhance the quality of teaching and learning experience of faculty, researchers and students. The center will also enable the automotive industry to get valuable data on their products and facilitate decision-making on performance and target improvements.”
In the first phase, a 4,000m² building has been constructed with complete infrastructure for vehicle evaluation, engine testing and development and basic NVH facilities. The second phase that is scheduled to be complete by the end of 2015, will include the construction of a hemi-anechoic room, reverberation rooms, listening studio and complete NVH facilities.