Kettering University has received a $155,000 education grant from the DENSO North America Foundation to expand its industrial robotic cell, strengthening hands-on learning in automation, robotics, and advanced manufacturing.
The funding supports the expansion of a robotic cell already in use by Kettering engineering students. The system was originally developed through an industry collaboration with Patti Engineering and Mitsubishi Electric and is designed to mirror real-world manufacturing environments used in automotive and industrial automation settings.
Dr. Scott Grasman, who oversees engineering programs at Kettering, said expanding the robotic cell reflects how quickly industrial systems are evolving and the expectations graduates will face as they enter the workforce.
“We are equipping our students with experiences that reflect what they’ll face in the workforce,” Dr. Grasman said. “This expansion strengthens our ability to teach practical skills that directly translate into careers in advanced manufacturing and robotics.”
With the expansion of the existing robotic cell, students move beyond working with isolated equipment and gain experience with coordinated robotic systems. Dr. Grasman noted that working with multiple robots operating together exposes students to the complexity of modern automation and supports applied, hands-on problem-solving.
The expanded robotic cell allows students to explore automation workflows, system integration, and industrial programming commonly used on modern factory floors. As part of that work, students examine how data-driven automation, system reliability, cybersecurity awareness, and human oversight contribute to manufacturing systems that are efficient, transparent, and dependable.
“While students are encouraged to modify and test code, safety systems remain locked in place, reinforcing the safeguards and constraints that govern real production environments,” Dr. Grasman said. “Working within interconnected robotic systems helps students understand how intelligent manufacturing technologies are designed, validated, and operated in ways that build trust between humans, machines, and the organizations that deploy them.”
The robotic cell is integrated directly into engineering coursework, reinforcing Kettering’s applied, industry-embedded approach to education. Students engage with the same types of tools and systems used by employers in manufacturing, robotics, and mobility-related industries.
Kettering was one of five institutions selected to receive funding through the DENSO North America Foundation’s 2026 education grant program, which awarded nearly $1 million to universities across North America in support of STEM education and workforce development. At Kettering, the grant builds on prior industry investment in the robotic cell and extends its long-term instructional value for future cohorts of students.
About DENSO Globally headquartered in Kariya, Japan, DENSO is a $47.9 billion leading mobility supplier that develops advanced technology and components for nearly every vehicle make and model on the road today. With manufacturing at its core, DENSO invests in around 180 facilities worldwide to provide opportunities for rewarding careers and to produce cutting-edge electrification, powertrain, thermal, and mobility electronics products, among others, that change how the world moves. In developing such solutions, the company’s 158,000 global employees are paving the way to a mobility future that improves lives, eliminates traffic accidents, and preserves the environment. DENSO spent around 8.6 percent of its global consolidated sales on research and development in the fiscal year ending March 31, 2025. For more information about DENSO’s operations worldwide, visit https://www.denso.com/global/en/.
