SLIIT driving ambitious research and development unit for UK Bentley Motors

Dr. Malika Perera

A new research facility at Sri Lanka’s premier degree awarding institute, SLIIT, heralds the country’s historic entry into research and development in the global automotive industry. 

Confirming its leadership in the education and research arena this new unit was formed as an initiative of SLIIT President/CEO Prof. Lalith Gamage and is headed by Dr. Malika Perera, Senior Lecturer Mechanical Engineering and Project Manager, Bentley CAE Project.

Dr. Perera, alumni of St. Peters College and a graduate of University of Moratuwa, is also a PHD holder from Loughborough University, UK. Having specialised in the field of vehicle dynamics analysis, his project was funded by Ford Motors Ltd., UK. After finishing his PhD, Dr. Perera extended his work for other car companies owned by Ford such as Jaguar and Land Rover.  

He is a respected technical specialist in Vehicle NVH (Noise, Vibrations and Harshness) and has worked in the international automotive sector for over a decade. During the past five years, being based in Bentley Motors Ltd., UK, Dr. Perera has worked for the Volkswagen group of companies.

With the goal of using his capabilities in the automotive sector in Sri Lanka, Dr. Perera has moved back to Sri Lanka and joined SLIIT. Due to the wealth of experience in the automotive sector which Dr. Perera possesses and the state of the art infrastructure of SLIIT, Bentley Motors Ltd requested the support in analysing their vehicle models for various NVH problems and finding the root cause based solutions. Dr. Perera is currently spearheading the project whilst being attached to SLIIT’s Faculty of Engineering. 

With ever tightening world emission controls all the automobile manufacturers are forced to find novel technologies to reduce emissions. On the contrary, customers demand better performing vehicles in terms of dynamics and durability.  The only way to get a balance between those mutually opposing requirements is to develop very light but durable materials together with highly combustion optimised engines. To compete in the world market the manufactures had to optimise their product for noise and vibration resistivity for which the SLIIT research centre is well equipped to do. 

Dr. Perera attests that the cutting edge vehicle development technology including the knowhow of the software tools are available at the SLIIT research centre. This enables SLIIT to compete with other top international researchers in the automotive sector.

Launched just six months ago, the project will take place at the Faculty of Engineering at SLIIT. The Engineering students of SLIIT are providing a platform for the development of Engineering expertise and facilitating new research in engine testing and technology. In the longer run it is planned to test engines for performance, power trains for vibration, durability and elastomers (rubber bushes) for its characteristic behaviours. Provisions are also being made in the upcoming new Engineering complex for a comprehensive automotive lab.

“The new Research and Development Centre at SLIIT will enable graduate students especially those following Mechanical Engineering, the opportunity to apply their knowledge and skills on an intellectually stimulating project. The rationale for this project at SLIIT is to encourage students to develop their analytical and thinking skills to meet industry requirements,” commented Dr. Perera.

“Judging by the enthusiastic response received by the students at SLIIT, the project team envisages progressing toward research on Formula One racing cars. Since the required technology is available to optimise the performance in vehicle handling, dynamics and structure, it is possible to develop a race car in a virtual environment with a low investment,” added Dr. Perera.

While the research primarily targets the automotive sector, Dr Perera firmly believes the methodologies can be applied to numerous other industries. Hence students who are working on these projects will have a brighter career path in their chosen industry. 

Elaborating on his specialised expertise Dr. Perera said, “There are many people conducting analysis, however, the multi body dynamics analysis which we conduct is specialised and niche.”   

No doubt hosting such a prestigious project is a landmark initiative for SLIIT. All Sri Lankans too can take pride in the fact that a local university can play a pioneering role in a novel initiative which has gained global recognition. Dr. Perera notes that this project will showcase SLIIT favourably among key players in the industry.