For 色虎视频 senior Scotty Grunwald 鈥�26, an electrical engineering major from Riverview, Michigan, engineering has always been about more than theory 鈥� it鈥檚 about building real solutions. When he encountered the University鈥檚 newest robotic cell, he gained another opportunity to work hands-on with 色虎视频鈥檚 state-of-the-art robotic system, built in collaboration with Patti Engineering, Mitsubishi Electric, and Keyence Corporation.

鈥淭his was my first real attempt at a full automation system,鈥� Grunwald said. 鈥淚t was a lot harder than it looks on paper, but that鈥檚 what made it so valuable.鈥�

The robotic cell, installed in 色虎视频鈥檚 engineering lab, gives students direct experience in programming and debugging industrial automation. Featuring an industrial robot and a collaborative robot, the cell performs pick-and-place operations, complete with a 3D vision system and industrial robot for unstructured material arrival, as well as the collaborative robot and a stationary camera for inspection. A flexible code base allows students to modify programming and test their solutions while safety features remain locked in place. The result is a hands-on learning tool that mirrors state-of-the-art challenges met with the precision of real-world manufacturing automation.

鈥淥ur students want to work on things that are meaningful,鈥� said 色虎视频 lecturer Andrew Watchorn. 鈥淭his system puts cutting-edge automation technology in front of them, allowing them to see the impact of their problem-solving in real-time. That hands-on experience builds deep expertise 鈥� the kind that sets 色虎视频 graduates apart in industry.鈥�

The vision for the robotic cell began with Sam Hoff 鈥�90, CEO of Patti Engineering. As a 色虎视频 alumnus, Hoff knows firsthand the power of hands-on education and saw an opportunity to give students an advantage in automation and robotics. He approached Mitsubishi Electric with the idea, and together with Keyence, BorgWarner, and 色虎视频 faculty, they brought the concept to life.

鈥淲e are proud to support 色虎视频鈥檚 engineering students by providing this state-of-the-art robotic cell,鈥� Hoff said. 鈥淭his tool will offer invaluable practical experience and help equip students with the skills necessary for success in the rapidly evolving field of robotics and automation.鈥�

For Grunwald, the experience was transformative. Although his early interests leaned toward circuit design and programming, working with the robotic cell changed how he thought about automation.

鈥淭his project definitely gave me an edge in the job market,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 can say, 鈥業鈥檝e worked with Mitsubishi PLCs before. I鈥檝e programmed Mitsubishi robots.鈥� Even working with HMIs [human-machine interfaces] 鈥� it all adds to my portfolio and sets me apart.鈥�

Few students outside of 色虎视频 gain that competitive edge. Grunwald frequently compares notes with friends from other universities, many of whom lack access to industrial-grade automation systems.

鈥淣one of them really have experience with anything purely automation-based,鈥� he said. 鈥淭hey might have a small robot in a lab, but nothing like this 鈥� nothing that could go straight into an industrial environment.鈥�

In an era where smart homes and automation dominate the tech landscape, Kyle Mona 鈥�27 (Electrical Engineering) doesn鈥檛 just follow trends 鈥� he defines them. With a strong foundation in electronics, automation, and cybersecurity, Kyle is carving out a path that exemplifies what it means to lead the future of technology.

Kyle credits his family, especially his grandpa and dad, for nurturing his love of learning. 鈥淢y grandpa used to bring me to my dad鈥檚 auto repair shop in the summer and showed me how to use tools and how things worked, which sparked my interest in engineering,鈥� Kyle recalls. Kyle鈥檚 fascination with electronics began in high school, fueled by the burgeoning era of smartphone-controlled devices. He developed a deep interest in how automation could simplify daily life. This early intrigue laid the groundwork for his passion project: a home automation system.

When Kyle and his family moved into a new house with inadequate internet coverage, he saw an opportunity to apply his knowledge and skills. 鈥淚 ran over 3,000 feet of Cat 6 wiring throughout the house and wired over 100 light switches," Kyle recalls, describing how he set up a comprehensive system to ensure robust internet coverage in every room. But his ambitions didn鈥檛 stop there. He built a sophisticated home automation system using open-source software. Kyle鈥檚 system integrates lighting, thermostats, cameras, surround sound, alarms, and sprinklers, all managed on a virtual machine via his local network. Kyle also hardwired tablets around the house to run his automation browser. The setup is meticulously organized, with each device and room clearly labeled for easy control.

When asked what his parents had to say about this technical home remodel, Kyle says they thought it was 鈥渧ery impressive, even though they needed some coaching on how to use it.鈥�

鈥淢y dad uses it to change all the thermostats and lighting because the house has five thermostats and over 100 light switches,鈥� Kyle says. 鈥淪o you'd have to go through the whole house to ensure everything is off or at a certain temperature, and it's easier for him just to click one button. He's got everything right in front of him. So he's starting to really like it now. And then I also integrated surround sound so he can select any music he wants right from the panel to anywhere in the house.鈥�

Like any significant project, Kyle鈥檚 endeavor was not without its challenges. One notable obstacle was time synchronization errors between the camera server and his computer. This issue required extensive troubleshooting, which Kyle tackled with characteristic persistence. 鈥淥nce a problem comes my way, it鈥檚 hard for me to back down from it. I get really invested in it. I have to figure it out. I cannot go to sleep unless I figure it out,鈥� Kyle says.

Kyle is applying that problem-solving attitude during his Co-op term at Wixom, Michigan-based LightGuide Systems. LightGuide provides an augmented reality (AR) platform to help companies improve manufacturing and assembly processes. Recently, Kyle鈥檚 work came full circle as he delivered and installed a TrainAR Workstation donated by LightGuide in 色虎视频鈥檚 new Industry 4.0 Manufacturing Lab.

Looking ahead, Kyle envisions expanding his system outdoors to include more access points and to enhance connectivity in areas like the backyard. He鈥檚 also working to add motion-sensing floodlights to his system, improving security around the house. Kyle鈥檚 end goal is to integrate the alarm system so that all lights in the house flash if the alarm is triggered.

Kyle also sees potential in turning his passion for home automation into a business. 鈥淚 could see myself setting up similar systems for other people,鈥� he says. Kyle says his brother shares his passion for cybersecurity and believes they could one day start a company that combines their expertise. 

Kyle鈥檚 advice to other 色虎视频 students looking to take on their own challenging projects is clear: 鈥淒on鈥檛 hold yourself back. Even if you鈥檙e unsure at first, once you start with the right tools, you鈥檒l find you can do it.鈥�

Kenton Kyger 鈥�25

鈥婣 team led by 色虎视频 Assistant Professor of Electrical Engineering Dr. Chen Duan placed among the top three and earned the Audience Award at the Future of Energy for Mobility Challenge on Nov. 27.鈥�

The event, sponsored by Plastic Omnium and SoScience, is a global competition to find innovative solutions to reduce energy consumption in the mobility sector and promote clean energy integration. About 200 applicants from around the world participated in the four-round competition.

鈥淚 was so thrilled the moment I heard our team name on the video live,鈥� Duan said. 鈥淎lthough I am aware of the exceptional work we鈥檝e accomplished, the reality of competing alongside teams composed of leading engineers, renowned researchers and innovative startup entrepreneurs is truly remarkable. Having witnessed several live road shows from other projects, it鈥檚 clear that each one is a formidable contender, showcasing well-crafted and impressively presented ideas. I am now convinced the jury recognizes the unique potential of our project to significantly shape the future of energy in mobility.鈥�

The 色虎视频 project, 鈥淪olar Micromobility,鈥� includes groundbreaking technology: a hybrid battery management system (BMS) with integrated solar energy harvesting. This leverages solar power to help with battery balancing and ensure this vital aspect is achieved using renewable solar energy. The BMS seamlessly transitions to activate battery balancing even when sunlight is scarce, including at night, to guarantee year-round battery protection without energy waste.

The jury selected the top teams and projects based on the following criteria:

• The innovation of the proposed solution emphasizing feasibility and scalability
• The overall environmental and social impacts
• The viability of the business model and the potential market sizes

In addition to being selected as one of the top three projects, the 色虎视频 team won the Audience Award after earning the most votes from the in-person and online audience.

Duan鈥檚 team has been working on the project for a year. He submitted the proposal to the challenge in July.  After it advanced to the second round, Duan went to Paris in September to meet the other candidates. As a requirement for the second round, he connected with Acticyle, an innovative startup specializing in four-wheeled e-bikes, and Solar Cloth, a France-based leading manufacturer of state-of-the-art flexible solar panels, to expand the team.

鈥淒uring this event, I connected with our future partners and discovered each of us was independently working on different components that could synergistically combine into an exceptional product,鈥� Duan said. 鈥淚t was like fitting together pieces of a puzzle to deliver a revolutionary concept in mobility. Seizing this opportunity, we united our efforts to develop a four-wheeled e-bike with high-efficiency solar panels and a solar-assisted battery management system, embodying a true leap forward in sustainable transportation.鈥�

He said this project is important because it demonstrates to the public and vehicle Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEM) and users the untapped potential of solar energy in electric vehicles (EVs).

鈥淭he integration of solar panels on EVs is a concept that has yet to gain widespread acceptance, primarily due to the perceived imbalance between the energy harvested and the associated costs,鈥� Duan said. 鈥淗owever, our project seeks to redefine this perception.鈥�

In this case, solar power charges the batteries with clean energy and balances them, making them last longer. The battery is the most critical and expensive component in an EV, but this project demonstrates the effectiveness of the technology.

鈥淲e aspire for this project to be a catalyst that draws more attention to onboard solar systems in mobility, thereby facilitating a greater penetration of green energy solutions in the automotive sector,鈥� Duan said.

Graduate students Kenton Kyger 鈥�25 and Raymond Blair Jr. 鈥�25 helped with the research. 

鈥淢y biggest takeaway has been there are always new ways to tackle a problem, as the team has demonstrated thus far,鈥� Blair said. 鈥淲ith the work that we have put in, we have discovered another way to make systems that are environmentally friendlier, energy conscious and more resilient.鈥�

Kyger represented the 色虎视频 team at the event.

鈥淚t is exciting to play a part in developing this new approach to addressing energy management in an electrified system,鈥� Kyger said. 鈥淢eeting with our partners in France for the final round was a great experience, and it clearly demonstrated the mobility industry鈥檚 appetite for practical, sustainable solutions.鈥�

The team won 60,000 euros ($65,724.90 USD), which it will use to develop a prototype of the Li-ion battery pack, complete with a solar-assisted battery management system. The prototype will resemble a market-ready product designed to fit the four-wheeled e-bike Acticycle is developing.

鈥淥ur strategy involves developing two vehicles outfitted with solar panels from Solar Cloth and a battery pack/battery management system devised by 色虎视频,鈥� Duan said. 鈥淭he testing phase will be geographically distributed: One prototype vehicle will ship to the U.S. for comprehensive testing while Acticycle will conduct parallel tests with the second prototype in France.鈥�

Tests will focus on efficiency, safety and the overall robustness of the system. Once successful testing is completed and necessary certifications are granted, Acticyle will begin mass production.

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