Student´s experience about his internship
My name is Michael Brossart and I am a student of telecommunications - my major subject being technical informatics at the University for Applied Science Mannheim (Fachhochschule Mannheim). At present, I am doing my 6th semester of studies. A notice on our notice-board at the university drew my attention to the internship offered by Pepperl+Fuchs.
The task I was assigned in the development group "Interface" was to write a test software in the programming language C/C++ for the purpose of testing the firmware of an RPI gateway and recording eventual faults.
The Remote Process Interface (RPI) is utilized to perform measurements, controls, adjustments and monitoring from and into an area that may have an explosive atmosphere.
During my internship, I was mostly working independently, but in case I had questions, I could ask my mentor for advice at any time. For carrying out my project, I had up to 3 PCs and a collection of data sheet as well as literature on "RPI" and "Programming under Windows" at my disposal. And I was able to solve my initial problems with real-time programming under Windows95 by the means of internet help.
In addition, I was in touch with trainees and students writing their diploma theses in other departments, and so I was able to gain some impressions of their tasks and departments, too. As a participator of a company tour of the production departments, arranged for trainees by the People Development&Training Department, I got an overview of the work processes there and learned to know the measuring procedures in electro-magnetic compatibility tests.
What I particularly liked was being able to work independently in a very open and friendly team atmosphere. The fact that my own ideas were accepted and included into the project was highly motivating.
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