The PoliMOVE-MSU Indy Autonomous Challenge (IAC) racing team and the College of Engineering’s Technology Engineering program (TechE) have been awarded $200K by the DENSO North America Foundation (DNAF).
This grant is one of 22 given to community colleges and universities across the U.S. to support advancing education in skilled trades, active safety and robotics programs, student vehicle teams, learning labs and more.
“DENSO is committed to enabling early-career talent to grow their knowledge and pursue successful careers in STEM areas. Through these grants, our aim is to inspire the next generation of engineers and skilled trades experts,” said Marty Deschenes, president of DNAF and leader of DENSO North America South Sub-Region Manufacturing.
DNAF is a philanthropic arm of DENSO, a global automotive components manufacturer with North American headquarters in Southfield, Michigan.
“We are grateful for this support from the DENSO North America Foundation. Promoting experiential learning is a priority of our college and also foundational for developing practice-ready talent,” said College of Engineering Interim Dean John Papapolymerou.
Demand for engineers with cross-domain, advanced skills in areas like software, mechanical engineering, and electrical engineering is growing. To develop systems-level and practice-ready engineering talent, MSU offers students co-curricular experiences that allow for the practical application of the knowledge they develop in the classroom.
The IAC high-speed autonomous vehicle racing platform offers a real-world scenarios for students to apply their classroom knowledge in some of the most extreme environments imaginable. Students involved in IAC team PoliMOVE-MSU not only develop practical application understandings and further comprehension of the technologies they work with, but they also develop a team-centered approach to problem solving and hands on experience in the mobility industry. Additionally, the autonomous Indy racer represents a novel research platform with a plethora of potential capstone and research project opportunities.
“Experiential learning and talent development are integral to our efforts to advance mobility and fulfill the workforce needs of industry,” said Judd Herzer, director of MSU Mobility. “This grant will help us offer impactful experiences students need which includes building a positive attitude toward teamwork, a healthy view toward competition, and an appreciation for what a career in the mobility industry could look like for them.”
The Technology Engineering (TechE) program, launched by MSU in 2024, offers a unique blend of engineering and computer science, tailored to address the modern engineering challenges of coding and computer science integrated into modern, engineered systems. Developed from the ground up with extensive input from industry, the program is designed to prepare professionals who can bridge the communication gap between engineers and computer scientists working within the mobility industry and across manufacturing, biomedical engineering, and agriculture.
“Being a brand-new academic program, we have a wonderful opportunity to develop courses that integrate skill sets the students will need for modern challenges, like those experienced in autonomous racing,” said Janet Brelin-Fornari, Technology Engineering director. “The timing of this support couldn’t be better.”
The DNAF funding will support the following areas:
- PoliMOVE-MSU team equipment
- PoliMOVE-MSU team capstone projects
- TechE program lab equipment expenses to cover industry standard data acquisition, sensors, calibration equipment, and software.
“If we could do one thing to ensure a strong workforce and economy in Michigan and the region, it’s to focus on talent,” Herzer said. “We are grateful for DENSO’s support.”
By Judi Melena Smelser
MSU College of Engineering Media and Public Relations page