How the UAS Challenge helped prepare me for a career in engineering

Swapnil Patra took part in the UAS Challenge when he was a student at the University of Bath. He talks to the Institution about what he learnt from the challenge and how it helped launch him into a career in helicopter design

Q: How did you first get involved in the UAS challenge?

I was studying at the University of Bath at the time, and I decided that the Challenge would make for an interesting addition to my final year project. The fact that the Challenge had a tangible result at the end of it was also really interesting, and something that I felt would help me in my future career.

My role in the team revolved around designing and testing the propulsion for the aircraft and using computer modelling techniques to evaluate performance.

Q: How did the Challenge help prepare you for a career in engineering?

The UAS Challenge really helped develop my interpersonal skills and how I work within an engineering team re-designing and manufacturing the aircraft. The brainstorming sessions and problem solving process was a really useful and educational part of the Challenge, and it was also great fun.

The Challenge is really an exaggerated form of industry – you are doing something in six months that would normally take ten years. That is a great way of preparing you for work once you graduate, and the experience is invaluable as you start out on your career.

Q: And what is it that you do now you have graduated?

I joined a graduate scheme at Leonardo Helicopters and have been in rotation round different departments since I started. Currently, I am working in the structures department that looks at airframe design of various aircraft.

Q: What would you say to someone interested in a career in engineering?

They should really look into taking part in challenges such as these as they give you a broad range of knowledge not only about your specialised area, but also of the other fields that make up the challenge, even if they are mainly carried out by one of your teammates.

It is also important to be curious and ask questions, no matter how silly they may seem. This is a great way of finding new topics that may interest you and also for broadening your knowledge and understanding of engineering.

Discover more about the UAS Challenge.