CAAT HOLDS INFORMATION SESSIONS FOR TWO NEW AUTOMOTIVE ASSOCIATE DEGREE PROGRAMS
The CAAT and Macomb Community College (MCC) recently held information sessions to introduce two new associate degree programs being offered at Macomb this fall: the FCA Automotive Manufacturing Program (AMP) and the Vehicle Development Technician (VDT) program. The information sessions were held June 13 and 19 at Macomb's South Campus in Warren, MI, with 64 attendees. Of the 64 participants, 46 expressed interest in applying to at least one of the new programs!
| Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) and its manufacturing plants have partnered with Macomb to find individuals looking to put their passion for automobiles to work. The FCA Automotive Manufacturing Program (AMP) combines on-the-job training at FCA with academic coursework at Macomb and gives students the chance to develop leadership, problem-solving and communication skills. Students will participate in a paid co-op program, working one day per week as a Production Supervisor at an FCA manufacturing facility in the greater Detroit area. This program will run as a cohort at MCC's south campus and is limited to 25 participants. The cohort will attend classes full-time during the day, four days per week. Graduates may be offered a job with FCA and up to 50% tuition reimbursement. |
 |
|
|
|
 |
Macomb's Vehicle Development Technician Program will prepare students to assist in the development of highly automated and electrified state-of-the-art vehicles. A vehicle development technician needs to be mechanically-inclined, understand electronics and able to build wiring harnesses, while at the same time understanding vehicle networks and software and able to work with sensor output and data acquisition. Ideal attributes for program candidates are individuals who like working with their hands, have a keen automotive interest and who would enjoy bringing engineering concepts to life. |
"We've heard from our industry partners time and again that they need technicians with mechanical, electronic and software skills to assist their engineers in developing new, highly automated vehicles," said Joe Petrosky, Dean, Engineering and Advanced Technology. "They are looking for people with a unique skill set; people who can build and test prototype vehicles and vehicle systems when there is no service manual to consult."
"The driver assistance and automated development programs are moving very quickly," said Simon Price, manager, Engineering Technical Services, Robert Bosch LLC, one of the industry partners who provided expertise and feedback to Macomb. "Automotive technology is also growing and changing very quickly, and we need associates with the skill sets to not only be able to handle the current technological demands, but to adapt quickly with the advancements of tomorrow."
Macomb's new VDT program will be run as a four-semester cohort-style program meeting three days per week, with 15 to 25 students per cohort. Course work will be a combination of classroom instruction and hands-on training, including automotive technology, engineering technology and information technology courses focused on building mechanical, IT and electronics skill sets. A minimum of 66 credits, including 15 general education courses, are required for graduation. Two new courses were developed for the program, including one focused on connected, automated, intelligent vehicles and another on laboratory testing and data acquisition from vehicle systems. The new courses were developed through CAAT's
seed funding program with the assistance of
Springfield Technical Community College in Massachusetts and the
University of Alabama at Birmingham. Click the links above to view and download these courses from the CAAT's free
resource library.
The new VDT program has been designed to meet industry needs identified by CAAT leadership through various meetings with industry partners and discussions with the CAAT's
Industry Advisory Council. "Bosch has been a member of Macomb's CAAT advisory board, networking with professionals from the automotive sector and providing industry-experienced feedback towards the program," said Price. "What is important to note is that partnerships between academia and industry help to address market needs and prepare students for the exciting opportunities available to them."
Presenters at the information sessions included:
- Caron Recker, World Class Manufacturing Lead, Jefferson North Assembly Plant, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles
- Joe Petrosky, CAAT PI and Dean of Engineering and Advanced Technology, MCC
- Bob Feldmaier, CAAT Director, MCC
- Tim Pawlowski, Associate Dean, Automotive and Applied Technologies, MCC
- Lisa Philips, Internship Coordinator, MCC
- Sharlene Kroneck, Academic Advisor, MCC
If you missed the information sessions but would like to learn more, please click the program links provided above.
|
CAAT ATTENDS WORLD'S LARGEST CONFERENCE AND EXPO ON ADVANCED AUTOMOTIVE TECHNOLOGY
 CAAT Assistant Director, Nelson Kelly, attended the 18th Annual TU Automotive Detroit event held June 6th and 7th in Novi, MI. For many years, this event has been billed as the world's biggest conference and expo on future automotive technology. This year's event was the largest ever, with approximately 3,300 attendees, over 175 speakers and panelists, and more than 150 exhibitors offering information and displays of their hardware and software products.
Each day the meeting began with a plenary session, a networking coffee break and a number of breakout sessions on:
- advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) and autonomous vehicles
- connected services
- cyber security
- electric-mobility
- mobility as a service
- urban mobility and smart cities
- business models and strategy
- regulation and legislation
- business models and strategy
The automotive technology exhibition offered opportunities for viewing products and demonstrations by the exhibitors. Several exhibitors also had outdoor demonstrations and hands-on activities with smart vehicles. In addition, a session called Project Kairos provided a shark-tank type opportunity for start-up pitches and success stories.
Download the meeting agenda and other event information.
|
CAAT PARTICIPATES IN YOUTH & WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT EXHIBIT AT ITS AMERICA'S ANNUAL MEETING & EXPO
The
Intelligent Transportation Society of America (ITS America), a Washington, D.C. based membership and advocacy group for the development and deployment of Intelligent Transportation Systems in the United States, held their 27th Annual Meeting and Expo in Detroit, June 4-7, 2018. The theme was Transportation 2.0 and the event was sponsored by PlanetM, General Motors and other industry suppliers.
OEM's, suppliers, and technology firms are in a race to modernize current transportation systems. These changes will bring about adaptations in how people fundamentally interact with transportation and how they provide and receive goods and services. What new business models will emerge from these changes? What challenges? Will modalities be combined? These are the overarching questions that are vital to prepare markets, governments, and researchers for the future.
The conference offered in-depth thought and discussion on:
- Connectivity, Autonomy and the Future of Transportation and Transport
- Electrification and Infrastructure
- Regulatory and Financial Challenges Related to Deployment of ITS Technologies
- Cybersecurity and Privacy Opportunities and Challenges
- Transportation Systems Operations
- The Impacts & Opportunities of Big Data
The keynote addresses focused on:
- The Future of Transportation
- Building Intelligent Communities
- Safe and Secure Mobility
The conference also offered a
Smart Mobility Stage on the expo floor, which built upon the tremendous success of the Smart Cities Stage at the 2017 ITS World Congress. As intelligent transportation systems are at the center of a modernized smart mobility plan, the Smart Mobility Stage brought together thought leaders, cutting-edge visionaries, leading technology companies and manufacturers, to discuss, debate and advise on the trends and future of intelligent mobility. Topics included the Internet of Things (IoT), automated vehicles, cybersecurity, standards, mobility technology platforms, public safety and health, Cloud solutions, wireless connectivity, Smart Cities, and more.
Technical tours featuring local transportation facilities and/or projects were also offered:
 |
OnStar Command Center Tour Participants took a deep dive into the history, development, and capabilities of OnStar, the brand that started the "connected car" back in 1996. Located in Detroit's Renaissance Center, the OnStar Command Center showcases how the service has evolved over the years while also providing a look behind the curtain. The tour explained how OnStar is able to provide connected services for nearly 14 million customers around the world. |
|
|
 |
Back-Stage Pass The Connected and Automated Environment of Ann Arbor at the University of Michigan: Participants experienced the University of Michigan connected and automated transportation research facilities and programs, including Mcity, the Ann Arbor connected vehicle test environment, simulator lab, and the Michigan traffic lab, the traffic management center for the Mcity test facility. Visitors rode in connected and automated vehicles while touring the test facility, drove in connected vehicles in the largest real-world connected vehicle deployment, and rode in a vehicle simulator. |
|
|
MACOMB COMMUNITY COLLEGE TO OFFER TESLA START STUDENT AUTOMOTIVE TECHNICIAN PROGRAM!
This fall, Macomb Community College is launching a new automotive service technician training program from electric vehicle manufacturer, Tesla. This intensive, 12-week technical training program is designed to provide students with the skills necessary for job placement within a Tesla Service Center as a service technician. Tesla currently has 76 Service Centers across the country.
"The
Tesla START program provides Macomb students with a unique opportunity to position themselves at the forefront of emerging opportunities in a challenging and fast-moving industry," said Joe Petrosky, Dean, Engineering and Advanced Technology. "Students will benefit from job-specific training, a chance to earn while they learn, a job opportunity pipeline and a foothold in the future of the automotive industry."
Tesla will provide the curriculum and instructors, and will work with students on job placement upon successful completion of the program. Students will train on the college's South Campus in Warren, Michigan, in a space designed to simulate a Tesla Service Center location, with three to five Tesla vehicles, including Model S, Model X and Model 3. During the course of the program, students will develop technical expertise and earn certifications through a blended approach of classroom theory, hands-on labs and self-paced learning.
The student fee for the program is $1,500. Students accepted into the program are considered Tesla interns and will earn an hourly wage as they learn. The 12-week program runs eight hours per day, five days per week.
Upon successful completion of the program, graduates are eligible for employment with Tesla at one of their service locations across the country and can earn a competitive regional salary with company equity and a generous benefits package. Tesla works with the students on their preferred Service Center placement and assists with relocation.
The ideal candidate for the program is a graduate or soon-to-be graduate of a certified automotive education program, from Macomb or another college, with an interest in working on electric vehicles. Those interested in this program are urged to attend an information session scheduled for Tuesday, June 26, 6 - 7:30 p.m., on the college's South Campus in Warren, MI, Building S, Auditorium 101. To sign up for the information session, visit
www.macomb.edu/tesla or call 586.445.7108. To apply for the program, visit
www.tesla.com/careers/tesla-start.
Interviews begin June 27 and the first session begins August 20.
|
RESOURCE LIBRARY SPOTLIGHT ITEM
The chain of effects in autonomous driving generally consists of different processing stages:
- Preprocessing - to detect features, static or dynamic objects, and free spaces in the environment
- Data Fusion - merging and collating into a consistent environment model by synchronization and correlation of sensor input
- Localization - knowing the exact location and lane position of the vehicle based on a high-definition map
- Execution - the situation is analyzed, trajectories are plotted, a decision is made, and action is taken
 The dSPACE response to this is an end-to-end tool chain for autonomous driving from a single source. Unique rapid prototyping solutions of high-performance platforms and a tailored software environment allow for the development of complete multi-sensor applications in the vehicle, from perception and fusion algorithms to real-time controls.
Check out this resource, or any of the other great resources in our
Resource Library.
|
CAAT CELEBRATES THIRD YEAR OF OFFERING FREE STEM LABS AND CAREER EXPLORATION LABS TO MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS
As the 2017/2018 school year comes to a close, the CAAT has now completed its third year of offering free STEM Labs to local middle school classrooms, and free career exploration labs to youth groups and parents. In addition to these highly successful offerings, the CAAT provided free STEM and career exploration labs to students at other events in which we were invited to participate. This includes Macomb Community College's Middle School Days event, a STEM Day event offered by the
Detroit Area Pre-College Engineering Program(DAPCEP) held at the Detroit Science Center, and career exploration labs adapted for 9th grade students and their teachers/school administrators (in lieu of parents) held at Macomb's South Campus.
During the 2017/2018 school year, the CAAT's STEM Outreach Coordinator, Saleta McMurray, visited a total of 15 middle schools, conducted STEM Labs in 136 classrooms. Combining all Ms. McMurray's activities, she taught a total of 3,905 students!
At the end of each lab, students and teachers are asked to complete a short survey that is used to assess the program's success as well as gauge student interest in engineering or general STEM careers.
Nearly 2,700 students and 36 teachers completed the survey. Results are shown below.
 |
 |
|
Teacher Comments:
- "I'm so thankful that your labs relate very well to our science and engineering practices!"
- "My entire science staff has been notified."
- "Mrs. McMurray was an excellent presenter who definitely impacted my students. I loved the fact that I was able to actively guide students as well. She is welcome in my classroom anytime. I hope to continue this next year. Great Job!"
|
Student Comments:
- "I like how it was challenging and encouraged me to do more."
- "I thought it was fun to keep testing & try to figure out what was wrong with our car."
- "Making this lunar buggy made us think of ways to improve it. Also, it helps people work toward comparing ideas and sharing opinions and experience."
|
|
We are pleased to report that, over the past three school years, the CAAT conducted its free STEM Labs in 426 classrooms and provided free STEM and career exploration educational opportunities to more than
12,300 middle and high school students!
|
|
AUTO STEAM DAYS 2018
Save the Date!
December 5 & 6, 2018
Attention middle school and high school teachers! Mark your calendar to bring your classroom to Auto STEAM Days 2018, which will be held December 5 & 6, at the Macomb Community College Expo Center in Warren, MI. This educational event is sponsored by the CAAT and offers the following great experiences to students:
- Check out the latest trends in automotive design and technology
- Talk with experts in the fields of engineering and robotics
- Experience digital sketching and automotive clay modeling
- Realize the high-tech world of production design
- Understand the world of automated and connected vehicles
- Discover coding and traffic light programming
- Learn about augmented reality, drivelines, and surface traction
- Experience high-tech vehicles on display
- Operate hands-on skilled trades exhibits and learn about apprenticeship
|
CAAT SPONSORS HYBRID ELECTRIC VEHICLE SUMMER ACADEMY FOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS
 |
Student measures vibration with a
Piezeo-electric sensor. |
Macomb Community College (MCC) again offered summer career academies to local high school students. These career academies offer students an opportunity for hands-on exploration of careers guided by professionals in those fields.
A Hybrid Electric Vehicles (HEV) workshop was offered at a reduced rate of only $15 through the CAAT's funding from the
National Science Foundation. It was held June 18-21 at Macomb's south campus in Warren, MI. Fifteen 9th and 10th grade students attended the workshop from 7 local high schools.
During the interactive workshop, students were exposed to the principles of battery/electric and other alternative fuel vehicles. Additional topics included reasons to use electric vehicles, electric vehicle safety, battery technologies and motor types. The students conducted experiments to learn about friction, heat, light, induction pressure/vibration and sources of electricity and used various meters to measure the outcomes. Participants rubbed a balloon on top of their heads to create electricity through friction. A Piezeo-electric sensor was used to record the maximum voltage created when a student tapped it on the table. One student used a graphite pencil drawing to illustrate resistance while learning Ohm's Law and a digital multi-meter to measure the Ohms.
This introduction to basic electronics was a great hands-on learning experience for students interested in how electronics apply to automotive vehicle development.
|
ATTENTION PARENTS: SEND YOUR KID TO COLLEGE! ATTEND A CAREER EXPLORATION LAB FOR MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS AND PARENTS!
In conjunction with Macomb Community College's
College for Kids (C4K) program, the CAAT will offer its popular STEM Career Exploration Labs (CEL's) this summer for middle school (6th - 9th grade) students and their parents (or other designated adult). The students and their parents will design, test, and build three projects while learning about engineering careers. This is a FREE class sponsored by the CAAT through its funding from the
National Science Foundation. Select from the dates below and register today!
June 27, 2018 ~ OR ~ July 30, 2018 ~ OR ~ August 20, 2018
Pre-registration is required as class size is limited to 20 students and 20 parents. Classes will be held at Macomb's South Campus (Building R, Room 112) in Warren, MI. To register, please contact Saleta McMurray, CAAT's STEM Outreach Coordinator, at 586-445-7127 or
mcmurrays36@macomb.edu.
|
NEXT-GENERATION SAFETY SYSTEMS DEMONSTRATED AT
ITS AMERICA EVENT
Several auto industry suppliers collaborated to demonstrate new V2X connected vehicle technologies on public roads at the ITS America Annual Meeting recently held in Detroit, MI. The new safety technologies featured in the demonstrations included:
- Traffic light signal timing that will provide drivers with a countdown reflecting when the light (green or red) will change.
- A pedestrian detection system that will warn drivers if a person, bicycle or vehicle is crossing the road in front of them.
- A vehicle-to-vehicle collision detection system to warn both drivers if a risk of collision is present.
- A traveler information messaging system to warn drivers of potential nearby hazards such as gas leaks, power outages, variable speed limits, etc.
- A wrong way detection system to advise drivers if they are driving the wrong way on a one-way street.
|
DID YOU KNOW...
Did you know... Michigan's mobility-focused brand and business development program, PlanetM, unveiled a new two-part initiative that offers mobility startups access to more than $1M in grant funding? The announcement was made at the 2018 ITS America Annual Meeting recently held in Detroit.
Learn more.
Did you know... the California Public Utilities Commission recently approved regulations allowing driverless cars to carry passengers, but said companies are not yet allowed to charge for the ride?
Learn more.
Did you know...
IEEE and the
American Center for Mobility (ACM) recently signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU)? This agreement formally connects the IEEE Transportation Community with a world-class testing and validation environment. The MOU formally links the ACM with a global leader in standards development and expertise for connected and autonomous vehicles, and related technologies and infrastructure, across wireless, vehicle-to-vehicle and vehicle-to-infrastructure communications, 5G, and a host of other areas.
Learn more.
|
|
|
|
