Biography
Name: Ms. Nirmala Sanikommu
Designation: Sc.F, In-charge – Electronics & Instrumentation, Electrical & Utility Infrastructure
Organization: International Advanced Research Centre for Powder Metallurgy & New Materials (ARCI), Hyderabad
Years of Experience: 25+ years
Areas of Expertise / Research Interests
Advanced Electronics & Instrumentation for materials research
Industrial Automation and Embedded Control Systems
Laser, Thermal Spray, CNC & Robotics-based R&D Equipment Systems
System Integration, Indigenous Technology Development & Upgradation
Data Acquisition Systems & Real-time Monitoring
Control Circuit Design and Process Automation
Professional Experience
Serving ARCI since 1996, contributing to multi-disciplinary research facility development
Lead installation, commissioning & maintenance of advanced industrial and analytical systems
Troubleshooting of complex imported equipment without documentation
Development of customized instrumentation including Advanced DSC and Pulsed Electro-Deposition systems
Integration of indigenous components to reduce downtime and dependency on imported parts
Procurement advisory and collaborative technical support for multiple ARCI Centres
Mentoring trainees and interns in electronics and instrumentation skills
Research Publications
Authored 14 peer-reviewed journal papers in reputable international journals (JSIR, JISI, Lasers in Engineering, etc.)
(Detailed list can be added in publication section—already formatted earlier)
Major Contributions
Supported several ARCI projects involving laser processing, surface coatings, hybrid systems, and advanced instrumentation
Key role in technology development, system automation, and process control improvements
Skills & Technical Strengths
LabVIEW programming & programmable instrument control
Embedded systems, sensors, industrial communication & DAQ
Design and development of control circuits and automation modules
Subsystem integration with large R&D equipment
Professional Attributes
Strong analytical & problem-solving capabilities
Efficient team coordination and cross-centre support
Commitment to continuous improvement and innovation
Training & Outreach
Hands-on guidance to Graduate Trainees and summer interns
Support for safe and reliable equipment operation and upkeep
Research Areas of Interest
Advanced Electronics & Instrumentation for Materials Research
Procurement, optimization, and maintenance of sophisticated test, measurement, and analytical systems used in materials science and industrial R&D.
Industrial Automation & Control Systems
Design and integration of control circuits, embedded systems, and automated solutions for precision process control, including CNC, robotic platforms, and coating technologies.
Laser and Surface Engineering Equipment Systems
Installation, commissioning, and performance enhancement of high-power laser systems, thermal spray coating systems (Detonation /PVD/Plasma/HVAF) Cold Spray, and supporting subsystems such as Vacuum, servo systems, high-capacity chillers etc.
In-House System Development & Technology Adaptation
Modifying and upgrading imported systems, including indigenous component integration, to improve reliability, reduce downtime, and achieve cost-effective solutions.
Development of customized instruments such as Advanced DSC systems and Pulsed Electro-Deposition setups.
Data Acquisition, Monitoring & Analytical Solutions
Design and deployment of specialized data acquisition platforms ensuring seamless system–subsystem communication and robust process data analytics using programmable instruments and LabVIEW.
Technology Transfer & Collaborative Engineering
Supporting cross-functional R&D initiatives by contributing technical solutions for equipment development, process monitoring, troubleshooting, and technology adoption.
Skill Development & Technical Training
Mentoring and training graduate trainees and interns in electronics, instrumentation, and automation for hands-on exposure to research and industrial environments.
Highest Qualification
Other Qualifications
List of Publications
1.D. Nikhil Sagar, N. Aruna, Nirmala Sanikommu, Naveen Rathee
Development of Portable 3D Printer with PID Controlled Heating, Fine Stepping and Self-Replicating
Journal of the Instrumentation Society of India, 51, 38–43, 2021.
2.N. Sanikommu*, N. Aruna, Ch. Sambasiva Rao, N. Aamani
Simulated LabVIEW Setup for Studying the Combined Behavior of Supercapacitor and Battery in a Hybrid EV
Journal of the Instrumentation Society of India, 50, 133–135, 2020.
3.N. Sanikommu*, K. Bhargavi, M. B. Suresh, R. Johnson, A. S. Joshi
Mixing Torque Measurement—An Effective Tool for Identifying Critical Binder Volume Concentrations for Ceramic Processing
Journal of Scientific & Industrial Research, 74, 504–507, 2015.
4.N. Sanikommu*, N. Aruna, A. S. Joshi
Computer Control of a Thermal Cycling System
Journal of the Instrumentation Society of India, 45(2), 138–139, 2015.
5.C. S. Rao*, N. Sanikommu, N. Aruna
Development of an Arduino-based Charge Controller for a Solar Panel
Journal of the Instrumentation Society of India, 45(3), 180–181, 2015.
6.N. Sanikommu*, G. Sivakumar, A. Joshi, N. Aruna, D. S. Rao, G. Sundararajan
A Computer-Based Approach for Developing Functionally Graded and Layered Coatings with Detonation Spray Coating Process
Journal of Scientific & Industrial Research, 72, 477–480, 2013.
7.N. Sanikommu*, N. Aruna, C. S. Rao, Manikanta
Automation of Arc Discharge Setup for Production of Carbon Nanotubes
Journal of the Instrumentation Society of India, 43(1), 55–57, 2013.
8.N. Sanikommu*, N. Aruna, V. Gururaj, A. S. Joshi
A Virtual Instrument for Thermal Fatigue Testing of Die-Casting Tool Steels
Journal of the Instrumentation Society of India, 43(4), 261–262, 2013.
9.N. Sanikommu*, Nitin P. Wasekar, A. Joshi, G. Sundararajan
A Virtual Instrument for Pulsed Electrodeposition: A Novel Technique for Obtaining Graded Coatings
Journal of Scientific & Industrial Research, 70, 1026–1028, 2011.
10.N. Sanikommu*, B. Shanmugarajan, A. S. Joshi
Integration of a High-Power Laser with a CNC Workstation
Journal of the Instrumentation Society of India, 40(4), 254–255, 2010.
11.N. Sanikommu*, A. S. Joshi
Centralized Monitoring and Control of Air-Conditioning Units
Journal of Scientific & Industrial Research, 68, 838–842, 2009.
12.N. Sanikommu*, A. S. Joshi, D. S. Rao
A Reliable Electronic Ignition System for a Detonation Chamber
Journal of the Instrumentation Society of India, 38(4), 243–247, 2008.
13. N. Sanikommu, Ravi Bathe*, Arun S. Joshi
Detection of Drill Through in Laser Percussion Drilling
Lasers in Engineering, 17, 361–369, 2007
Conference Proceedings
Conference proceedings: [*] Presented & Published a paper entitled ‘Current status of MEMS in INDIA’ in proceedings of 5th International workshop on Microelectronics/pp 23-37 held at Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia 6-7 September 2005.
D Sen, S.Nirmala, D.Srinivasa Rao, Influence of Pulse Frequency on WC-Co and Al2O3 Coating Properties obtained by DSC Technique, Proc. ATSC 2014, p.121-122.
Patents
• Patent Application No. 202241037966: "An Automated Spray Coating Deposition System" (Filed on July 01, 2022)
Major Projects / Technologies Developed
Automation of ADSC system, Cold Spray, HiPIMS
Awards & Honours
• Senior Grade Member, IEEE
Affiliation to Professional Societies
• Senior Member, Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE)
• Member, Instrument Society of India (ISOI)
• Member, Sensor Research Society of India (SRSI)
• Member, Indian Women Scientist Association (IWSA)
• Member, Electro Chemical Society of India