Ananth Chakravarthy
Hometown: Mountain House, CA
Major: Autonomy and Control
Why did you choose Aeronautics and Astronautics?
Waking up in the morning and learning about, and designing aircraft, aircraft systems, and rocket systems was the coolest thing ever and I could get paid for it.
Best event or organization you’ve participated in within AAE?
Purdue VFS, working on the avionics and design team for the club, has been a great a place for me to apply the theoretical knowledge learned this far in a more practical sense. Along with learning numerous things and meeting countless people I otherwise wouldn't have.
Best event or organization you’ve participated in outside of AAE?
Purdue Men's Water Polo. Having played water polo in high school, coming to college and continuing to play at a collegiate level with some amazing people has been
Why did you want to be an AAE Ambassador?
During my visit to Purdue as a senior in high-school it was an AAE Ambassador who gave me a special tour of Armstrong, from the different labs, to the astronauts who graduated from Purdue, and even the model aircraft section. It was the enthusiasm and passion with which he spoke about Purdue AAE which cemented my decision to come to Purdue. I became an AAE Ambassador to inspire others and provide them with the resources to pursue their AAE dreams as fervently as I have.
Favorite place on campus?
Bechtel Design Center
Favorite class you’ve taken thus far and why?
Signals Analysis for Aerospace Engineers(AAE 301) This class is phenomenal as it teaches theory alongside with the practical applications of the content learned in class. There's plenty of homework problems which allow you to apply the knowledge learned. An example is a high-pass filter which we had to build to eliminate low frequency humming from an audio recording, using the Fast Fourier Transform.
What is one piece of advice you would give to a potential AAE student?
Get involved with a club that's related to your interests.
Who is someone you look up to in the Aero/Astro industry and why?
The Wright Brothers, they went from fixing bikes to building an airplane. Proof that some of life's best paths aren't linear.
What motivates you to succeed?
To be the very best I can possibly be in my area of expertise. Every time academic success is mentioned I'm reminded of the quote "Chase excellence. Success will follow"
What is your ultimate career goal?
Constructing an improved weather monitoring satellite capable of accurately predicting freak waves to reduce civilian casualties and loss of property.
What do you like to do when you’re not studying/in the lab or classroom?
My time outside the lab and/or classroom is well-spent reading books, working out, and hanging out with friends.;