Behind the scenes with Iwan- intern
Iwan Le Bail is our summer intern, he is joining the team of Jan Olbrechts for 2 months. Iwan is at the end of his studies in Arts et Métiers, an engineering school in France. He started working with embedded software during a student job by developing a camera system for monitoring industrial lines of a company doing cold forging. Following the completion of his student job, he started a six-month internship with a prominent company specializing in the design of positioning devices. A great aspect of his responsibilities involved working on the integration of Ultra-Wideband (UWB) technology into one of the company’s products. This UWB device served as a complementary positioning system, correcting any potential drift in the device’s position, and ensuring the utmost accuracy and precision in its performance.
What do you do during a typical work day?
As an engineering intern at Essensium, my typical working day revolves around contributing to the testing and analysis of an UWB product. My tasks primarily involve conducting tests in various environments, including the underground parking and the office setup. These tests aim to assess the performance, functionality, and reliability of the product under different conditions.
After gathering test data, I try to analyse and understand the underlying physics or computer phenomena responsible for specific behaviours observed during testing. This analysis allows me to determine whether the observed behaviours align with the intended product design and functionalities. If any deviations or undesirable behaviours are detected, I work diligently to identify the root causes and propose potential fixes or improvements. Python scripting plays a crucial role in my work, and I continuously refine and upgrade the scripts I use to streamline testing processes and improve efficiency. By leveraging Python’s capabilities, I can automate certain tasks, conduct data processing, and present results in a clear and concise manner.
What’s the best thing about your job?
The most gratifying aspect of my internship at Essensium is the freedom to work on the smart EPS technology while maintaining a sense of autonomy. Essensium encourages me to explore and learn at my own pace, empowering me to take ownership of my projects and contribute meaningfully to the team’s objectives. The opportunity to engage with real-world challenges and contribute to the development of advanced solutions has made my internship truly enriching and rewarding. Moreover, Essensium is situated in Leuven, a charming and lively city, it made my stay during the internship all the more enjoyable.
Coming from France, I expected some differences in lifestyle and culture while in Belgium, but I have been pleasantly surprised by the similarities between the two countries.
One notable aspect that has truly stood out for me is the biking culture in Belgium. Unlike in France, where biking is not as common, I have been amazed by how common biking is as a means of transportation in Belgium. Embracing this eco-friendly and healthy mode of transportation has allowed me to explore the city in a unique and environmentally conscious way.
What is the most challenging part of your job?
Essensium has a multicultural team, and English serves as the common language for communication. The most challenging aspect of my internship at Essensium has been engaging in precise and technical discussions in English. As I am from France, English is not my native language, and while I have a good grasp of it, communicating complex engineering concepts and details in a foreign language can sometimes be difficult.