Thanks to a $474,287 grant from the state of Ohio, the University of Toledo (UToledo) will purchase new state-of-the-art equipment to train students in the areas of autonomous vehicle-sensing technologies, robotics and vision-based systems for automation.

The grant is part of $975,000 in funding in the region and $8 million across the state through the Department of Higher Education’s Regionally Aligned Priorities in Delivering Skills (RAPIDS) program for universities, community colleges and technical career centers to work together to improve education and job preparedness in different fields of strategic importance for Ohio employers.

“This investment focused on advanced manufacturing and cybersecurity in autonomous vehicles will significantly benefit students in our new graduate certificate program in vehicle mechatronics that we launched in collaboration with Dana Inc.,” says Dr. Mike Toole, dean of the UToledo College of Engineering.

UToledo’s group is one of the state’s nine regions. A consortium that includes three universities, six private and community colleges, and two career and technical centers, the group focuses on collaborating to share new equipment and curriculum in the field of robotics and autonomous vehicles.

“The RAPIDS program awards offer a unique opportunity for Ohio’s postsecondary educational institutions and employers to help address local workforce needs,” says Ohio Governor Mike DeWine. “Students are able to gain access to top-notch equipment that helps better prepare them for available jobs.”

To allow more students to get a quality education more affordably, equipment is shared among campuses.