Analysing EV Batteries with AI: Francisco Ribeiro Mansilha on his work placement at INNER

What kind of projects or tasks were you involved in during your placement? 

Francisco: 'Electric vehicles often encounter battery issues after prolonged use, and traditional diagnostics require disassembling the battery, something INNER aims to change. I worked on analysing CT scans of EV batteries to detect internal structures and anomalies. My main focus was on developing and improving vision algorithms for this purpose. It was a hands-on experience where I applied AI and computer vision to real-world problems. I also worked alongside two other interns on AI anomaly detection models and contributed to the refinement of our in-house tools.' 

What was the most valuable thing you learned during your time there? 

Francisco: 'At BUas, I usually collaborate with students from similar backgrounds, but INNER brought me into a multidisciplinary environment with people from electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, and applied physics. It was eye-opening and very rewarding to tackle problems from such different perspectives. I particularly valued working on anomaly detection models using AI. Our supervisor has a background in medical software and computer vision, and he mentored us in interpreting CT scans and building robust AI solutions. It was a great learning experience.' 

How did the placement match your expectations going in? Anything that surprised you? 

Francisco: 'I was really happy with the placement. Being part of a start-up meant I got to see aspects of the business interns usually don’t get to experience in larger companies. For example, I was involved in decision-making discussions by the co-founders and helped create reports for consultancy projects where we analysed EV batteries for other companies. It gave me a much broader view of the industry than I expected.' 

Did the experience influence your ideas about your future career path? 

Francisco: 'Definitely. I am still very interested in computer vision, but I have also become curious about robotics and electrical components. I have almost no experience in those areas, but after this placement, I am motivated to explore them further. The complexity and innovation involved are really exciting to me.' 

What was the biggest challenge you faced, and how did you handle it? 

Francisco: 'In the beginning, I wasn’t sure where to start with the CT scans. It was a bit overwhelming. But I talked to others in the team, did plenty of research, and gradually found my way. Often, others didn’t have all the answers either, so it was about learning together. In the end, we produced a comprehensive report with valuable findings. It was a great achievement, and being in a small team helped us bond and support each other.' 

What’s next for you? 

Francisco: 'I am heading to Switzerland for another internship, this time at CSEM, again focusing on computer vision. After that, I will complete my graduation project at BUas. I am looking forward to building on what I have learned and continuing to explore this field.' 

You can find more about Francisco's work on his LinkedIn profile or check out his projects on GitHub.