Mechanical BAJA, Electric BAJA, Hydrogen BAJA & Autonomous BAJA
Pune (Voice News Service): The Preliminary Round of BAJA SAEINDIA 2024 commenced with a program organized by the host institute, Ajeenkya D Y Patil University. Mr. Sanjay Nibandhe, Chairman, BAJA SAEINDIA Organizing Committee recounted the illustrious history of BAJA SAEINDIA, which now in its 17th edition, continues to redefine the standard of applied engineering competitions. This year, the challenge is extended further with the introduction of Hydrogen BAJA (hBAJA) – beginning with CNG and slowly transitioning to Hydrogen Propulsion and Autonomous BAJA (aBAJA) – self-driven battery powered vehicles. Dr. K C Vora, Advisor, BAJA SAEINDIA, emphasized the significance of these two new categories in today’s industry and how the organizers and the participating teams have taken up the challenge to work with alternative fuels and autonomous functions.
BAJA SAEINDIA, the flagship event of SAEINDIA is an engineering collegiate design competition, wherein the participating teams design, manufacture, validate and compete with a single-seater ATV (All-Terrain Vehicle). Every year, 5,000 to 10,000 engineering students join this one year event nationwide. This year, with around 170 plus participating teams (including one International team from Mexico), the event will be organized in 3 parts for the 2024 season, each phase more challenging that the last. The continuance of virtual events has in turn enabled the participation of international teams, demonstrating the vast scope of the event. By broadening the scope of the competition, the student fraternity is better equipped to tackle any difficulties, conquer the most difficult obstacles, acquire solid technical knowledge, and develop into professionals who are industry ready or eager to become an entrepreneur. By now, BAJA SAEINDIA alumni have penetrated most of the automotive companies in India as well as abroad.
Dr. Reji Mathai, Director, ARAI highlighted the importance of educating engineering students and fostering their awareness in technology and innovation. He said, “BAJA SAEINDIA, since its inception has been committed to bridge the gap between industry and academia and it is indeed a pleasure to see so many BAJA SAEINDIA alumni become successful professionals all across the automotive Industry, even in ARAI. ARAI has been supporting BAJA since its inception and I am proud to announce ARAI as the host for the Physical event of Autonomous BAJA (aBAJA SAEINDIA) event in 2024 at our new Autonomous Vehicle Test track at Takwe near Talegaon. Educating them even before they step into the industry will give them the confidence to be able to solve the problems, the mobility industry hves in store for us now and even in the future. I wish all the participants and organizers all the very best for BAJA SAEINDIA 2024.”
The event fosters an inclusive environment for young students from various engineering disciplines to come together from all across the globe, united by their shared passions for the pursuit of knowledge, adventure and the spirit of sportsmanship. Highlighting the importance of diversity in BAJA SAEINDIA as well as the mobility industry, Mr. Debashis Neogi, Managing Director, Renault Nissan Technology and Business Centre India said “Embracing diversity fosters innovation and propels progress. BAJA SAEINDIA provides a platform for students from diverse backgrounds to collaborate and create cutting-edge solutions. Celebrating diverse perspectives enriches the learning experience, empowering young engineers to become visionary leaders. RNTBCI is honored to be part of this transformative event, championing inclusivity, and inspiring a united future for the automotive world by sponsoring All-girl teams.” In this edition of BAJA SAEINDIA, 20% of all participants are girls and some teams have only female members. By allowing the participation of postgraduate students in the two new categories, BAJA SAEINDIA ensures a diverse and inclusive platform that encourages collaboration and the exchange of ideas between students from different academic levels.
While addressing the media, Dr. Biswajeet Champaty, Dean, Ajeenkya DY Patil University said, “BAJA SAEINDIA brings together a convergence of vertical skills such as technology and innovation, as well as horizontal skills like communication and teamwork. The event’s primary aim is to achieve impactful outcomes through collaborative efforts, aligning with the University’s vision.” He extended his gratitude to the BAJA SAEINDIA Organizing Committee for selecting Ajeenkya D Y Patil University as the event’s host for Preliminary Baja as well as Autonomous Baja and conveyed heartfelt wishes to all participating students for a successful experience.
The Preliminary Round was the first phase of BAJA SAEINDIA, with the event spanning over three days. A virtual inauguration ceremony was scheduled for the evening of 28th July, with Dr. R K Malhotra, President, Hydrogen Association of India as the chief guest and Mr. Debashis Neogi, Managing Director, Renault Nissan Technology and Business Centre India; Mr. Amit Gunjan, Chief Manager, Bharat Petroleum and Mr. I V Rao, Chairman of SAEINDIA Engineering Education Board as the Guests of Honor. The two-fold evaluation was held over the weekend, 29th July – 30th July 2023. Teams were assessed based on their Concept design through a 20-minute virtual presentation, and their familiarity with automotive concepts and BAJA SAEINDIA Rulebook is evaluated through an online quiz.
The second phase, Virtual BAJA SAEINDIA 2024 is scheduled to be held tentatively in the month of November 2023, where static event evaluations will be held alongside virtual dynamic event evaluations through globally acclaimed automotive simulation software – IPG Carmaker. Licenses and training sessions will be made available to teams to aid them in their preparation for these events. The third and final phase is the Physical Dynamic Events, scheduled to be held from January 2024 onwards, where the events will be hosted at different locations like Hyderabad, Pune and Pithampur near Indore.
