DENSO NORTH AMERICA FOUNDATION

DENSO North America Foundation was established in January 2001. Grants awarded by the Board of Directors and subsequently funded by DENSO North America Foundation are listed below.

21 Apr 2009

University of Tennessee at Chattanooga
$7,400.00 This grant supports the capstone design program through student participation in SAE's Mini Baja. The Baja competiton is an undergraduate student engineering project that involves the design, fabrication and operation of a gasoline powered prototype vehicle suitable for manufacture and sale to the off-road enthusiast. Capstone design gives students an oppotunity to practice what they have learned in theory -- one of the very best ways to help build a skilled and knowledgeable workforce. This grant is dedicated to the team's acquistion of a trailer.
Mississippi State University, Mississippi State, MS
$50,000.00 This grant supports MSU's participation in the EcoCAR challenge, a joint project of the U.S. Department of Energy and General Motors. The next generation Challenge X (concluded in 2008), EcoCAR builds on the 19-year history of DOE Advanced Vehicle Technology competitions. Students design and build advanced vehicles that demonstrate leading-edge automotive technologies, with the goal of minimizing the environmental impact of personal transportation and illustrate pathways to a sustainable transportation future. This grant supports the purchase of a diesel engine controller, which will permit the team to control the timing, frequency and duration of fuel injection. Go team!
Tennessee Technological University, Cookeville, Tennessee
$50,000.00 The U.S. currently imports about two-thirds of the petroleum that it uses. This is about the same amount of petroleum that is burned in U.S. vehicles -- a compelling reason for automotive engineers to develop more energy-efficient vehicle designs and that is just what the leadership and students at TTU is undertaking. A major problem with a conventional car is that seven-eights of the energy it uses never gets to the wheels -- it is consumed in the engine, the driveline, accessories as well as in idling. Half of the remaining eighth either heats the road or heats the air. Only about .3 percent of the fuel burned by an automobile ends up moving the driver. This grant contributes to the development of the Electronics, Drives & Generators Energy or 'EDGE' Laboratory. The lab will provide education to Electrical and Mechanical undergraduate engineering students in the hands-on skills required for the dvelopment of future hybrid electric vehices and alternative energy generation.
Instituto Tecnologico y de Estudios Superiores de Monterrey
$40,000.00 Senior engineering capstone design projects provide the hands-on experience to build skill, bring theory to practice and prepare students to enter industry. In Monterrey Tec's experience students take on the roles of product designers, manufacturing and test engineers to support such functional areas as powertrain, transmission, structure, styling, manufacture, testing, electronics and controls and innovations. The DENSO North America Foundation is very pleased to support this broad-based student effort -- one we believe will help develop the understanding necessary to bring advanced technologies to the world's automotive market.
Western Michigan University, College of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Kalamazoo, Mich.
$20,000.00 Western Michigan is working to make Smart Vehicles smarter. This project is dedicated to improving the accuracy and precision on vehicle positioning systems, which has been a particular problem in urban canyon environments, where tall buildings occlude satellite signals as well as reflecting them. The objective is to develop a multi-disciplinary laboratory to expose undergraduate students from civil/transportation, electrical and mechanical engineering to the field of smart vehicle systems research and development. Lab activities emphasize hands-on learning of advanced navigation systems using a coupled Global Positioning System/Inertial Navigation System (GPS/INS) integrated with a vehicular ad-hoc network (VANET) environment. This grant funded project will support senior design projects on vehicular wireless communications and networking systems. The results will be presented at Western's 46th Design Conference in April 2010.
Conestoga College, Kitchener, Ontario Canada
$20,000.00 Conestoga College is one of 28 community colleges located in the province of Ontario, Canada, and is one of three colleges designated as Institutes of Technology and Advanced Learning and one of seven polytechnic institutes in Canada. Conestoga has been the #1 rated technical college for nine of the last ten years. Capturing this title and maintaining the position requires planning, dedication and investment. The DENSO North American Foundation is pleased to support this effort. As Conestoga knows, as DENSO knows, good programs need modern equipment to provide the hands-on experience that industry requires. This grant provides support to update the engine lab on the Doon campus and provides funding for the acquistion of engines, dynamometer and monitoring equipment to help students understand the operating principles of internal combusion engines and underlying cycles for both gasoline and diesel fuels.
California State University, College of Engineering, Long Beach, Calif. (CSULB)
$25,000.00 Support for student projects is one of the best opportunities the DENSO Foundation has to support workforce development. At the university level, the Society of Manufacturing Engineers' Formula and Mini-Baja are premier. In 2007 Cal State Long Beach made a serious investment in their program and in their students with the establishment of the Automotive Research, Development and Education Laboratory or ARDEL. The ARDEL consists of seven labs: Non-Destructive Testing Lab Composite and Manufacturing Lab SAE Lab Computational Fluid Dynamics Lab Enginer Lab Wind Tunnel Design Lab Each of these units provide critical exposure to and training in areas of that will add value to theory and provide the hands-on experience valued by industry. This grant invests in the development of the Composite & Manufacturing Lab.
Lawrence Technological University, Southfield, Mich.
$50,000.00 This grant contributes to the development of an advanced Thermal Management Systems Engineering Laboratory for Alternative Energy Education. Thermal management has long been a critical issue for the automotive industry but with the research and development of alternative energies the dynamic impact on hybrids and alternative energy vehicles has brought this to new levels. While this offers opportunities for improvement and efficiency gains, it brings about a need for a deep understanding of heat transfer technology. LTU is providing engineering students this opportunity in the development of two test stations. One in HEAT TRANSFER and another in THERMAL STORAGE AND MANAGEMENT. The heat transfer station will give students exposure to conduction and convective heat transfer as well as an understanding of the effects of cooling fans on heat rejection. The thermal storage station will provide an opporotunity for students to learn how to minimize or maximize heat losses.
Michigan Technological University, Institute for Interdisciplinary Studies (IIS), Houghton, Mich.
$50,000.00 MTU's Institute for Interdisciplinary Studies is collaborative home to the Enterprise program, bringing together students from various MTU disciplines to create a real-world working environment -- a bridge to industry and experience for work force and career development. The Foundation has dedicated this grant to the Advanced Motor Sports (AMS) Enterprise teams which includes SAE Formula, CleanSnowmobile, Baja and EcoCAR. The Enterprise program develops entrepreneurial and innovative engineering skills, a framework for faculty to mentor students in a setting which closely resembles an industrial environment, problem-solves with a team approach, and considers decision making from a technical as well as cost and / or social impact. Its encompassing format provides the structure and format that is critical to sucess in any industry. The DENSO North American Foundation is pleased to provide our continued support to MTU.
University of Detroit Mercy, College of Engineering, Detroit, Mich.
$50,000.00 The automotive market is increasingly turning to alternative power technolologies and greater integration of advanced electronics for intelligent transporation systems to address the need for increased fuel efficiency, traffic congestion mitigation and vehicle safety. The students at UDM are exploring two questions: 1) How can thermal energy be stored and managed in hybrids? 2) Can the addition of sophisticated range and GPS sensors in conjunction with the development of intelligent software pave the way for the semi-autonomous vehicles of the future? The DENSO N.A. Foundation is pleased to support UDM students as they gain the hands-on experience in design, analyses, procurement, characterization and fabrication of a thermal management and energy storage system that receives, stores and releases heat on demand. Students will also develop and construct a small autonomous vehicle having both laser radar and Global Postion Systems (GPS)for entry in the 2010 Intelligent Ground Vehicle Competiton. Both will challenge students to consider how the new systems could be implemented in modern vehicles employing hybrid power and ITS technolgies.
The Ohio State University, The Center for Automotive Research, Columbus, Ohio
$25,000.00 The Center for Automotive Research (CAR) at Ohio State University is home to many student projects, often applying new technologies, increasing understanding of the high tech automotive industry and always providing hands-on experience for the next generation of engineers. CAR is host to EcoCAR, Formula SAE, Mini-Baja, Buckeye Bullet 2 and the OSU solar car. This is a cadre of teams that bring pride to OSU and to all its champions. This grant is dedicated to phase II construction of CAR's facility expansion, providing space for each team's planning, design and administrative activity.

25 May 2008

American Red Cross - Hawkeye Chapter, Waterloo, Iowa
$5,000.00 On May 25, 2008 the samll town of Parkersburg, Iowa, about 30 miles from Waterloo, Iowa, home to DENSO International's Distribution and Service Center was hit by a tornado. Four hundred homes were damaged; eight deaths were confirmed. This grant is dedicated to assist with relief efforts which included the opening of a shelter, service of hot meals as well as mental health and relocation services.

05 May 2008

California State University, Long Beach, California
$25,000.00 The purpose of this grant is to support the development of the automotive research, development and education laboratories (ARDEL). The system educates students in different aspects of automotive engineering and associated student projects and provides the necessary engagements of various experts and students for solving and advancing automotive technology. The ARDEL consists of seven labs: Computational Fluid Dynamics, Engine, Wind Tunnel, Composite and Manufacturing, Design, SAE and Non-Destructive Testing (NDT) labs. This grant is invested in equipment for the Non-Destructive Testing Laboratory.
Lawrence Technological University, Southfield, Mich.
$30,000.00 This grant is dedicated to support and advance the development of LTU's hydrogen fuel cell powered racing kart that will compete in the Formula Zero Championship. Element One, LTU's vehicle, is one of two U.S. universities entered into this international competetion in 2008. Formula Zero racing competition is based on guidelines set by the Alternative Engergies Commission of Federation Internationale de L'Automobile. Each competing team is responsible for designing and building kart to meet performance and safety specification, securing sponsorships and raising funds for expenses. As an opportunity for students to participate in the development and experience of evolving automotive energies, sustainability and performance, the DENSO Foundation is pleased to provide this grant.
University of Detroit Mercy, College of Engineering, Detroit, Mich.
$20,000.00 This grant supports the development of the Mechanical Engineering Design Curriculum. As automotive compoment engineers face a evolving automotive landscape, students require more hands-on real world training. UDM believes that among the challenges that face the automotive supplier industry are: developing HVAC compressors and systems to operate independent of an internal combusion engine; redesigning accessory motors and actuators to take advantage of high voltage; reduced cost and weight of components and linkages and developing effective re-manufacturing technologies. This grant is dedicated to acquisition of equipment to provide hands-on experience in the above areas and the development of an associated curriculum. This grant is supported with the donation of compressors provided by DENSO Sales California.
Michigan Technological University, Houghton, Mich.
$28,000.00 AMS Enterprise - Dust Collection System
Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo, Michigan
$25,000.00 Controller Area Network test bed
Mississippi State University, Bagley College of Engineering
$25,000.00 Equipment for IC Laboratory, Center for Advanced Vehicular Systems.
Smoke Meter
Instituto Technologico y de Estudios Superiores de Monterrey, Monterrey, Mexico
$40,000.00 Equipment for Autotronics Laboratory and support for the Formula SAE team.
Ohio State University, Center for Automotive Research, Columbus, Ohio
$25,000.00 Support for student project teams in the expansion of CAR, offices and conference room
Conestoga College Institute of Technology and Advance Learning
$15,000.00 Support / equipment for Mini-Baja team
University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada
$6,200.00 Formula SAE team support
Trailer
University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada
$15,000.00 Equipment for thermal laboratory
Rankine Cycle
University of Tennessee, College of Engineering, Knoxville, Tenn.
$50,000.00 Advanced Powertrain, Controls and Systems Laab
Emissions equipment
University of Tennessee, College of Engineering & Computer Science, Chattanooga, Tenn.
$7,000.00 SAE Mini-Baja Team

08 Nov 2007

American Red Cross, Long Beach
$200,000.00

15 May 2007

University of Detroit Mercy, Detroit, Michigan
$17,000.00 This grant supports equipment for the Advanced Mobility Lab. The lab supports course work in Digital Logic and ECE fundamentals, the Capstone Senior Design teams and the Advanced Mobility Robotics course.
Kettering University, Flint, Mich.
$20,000.00 This grant supports Kettering's Formula SAE team 2008. FSAE is a collegiate competition in which students design, build and compete with an open-wheel formula style race car.
Lawrence Technological University, Southfield, Mich.
$14,000.00 This grant is dedicated support for LTU's Formula SAE team. FSAE is a collegiate competition in which students design, build and compete with an open-wheel formula style race car.
Michigan State University, East Lansing, Mich.
$70,000.00 This grant supports the development of an hybrid electric vehicles(HEV)Lab. The lab and its component courses and research will promote understanding in the fields of power electronics, electric machines and drives, internal combusion engines and controls and the integral system played by each. Students will have the opportunity to explore hybrid technologies through the generosity of Toyota Motor USA who has supported this project with the donation of a Prius.
Michigan Technological University, Houghton, Mich.
$33,000.00 This grant provides support for the development of the Advanced Powertrain Systems Testing and Evaluation Laboratory. This lab supports student engineering teams: EcoCar, Challenge X, Clean Snowmobile and Formula SAE. The grant is dedicated to the acquisition of chassis dynamomenter.
Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo, Mich.
$50,000.00 This grant supports a student investigation of the dynamics of underhood heat. Students studied conditions by building a full scale model to simulate the buoyancy driven air flow in an automotive underhood compartment. A Stereo Particle Image Velocimetry (SPIV) was used to obtain the vector flow field results. A joint project with General Motors, the students presented their findings at the 42nd Senior Engineering Design Conference in April 2008. 2008. This grant was dedicated to PIV instrumentation.
Mississippi State University, Mississippi State, MS
$17,000.00 This grant is dedicated to the acquisition of a flowbench to support automotive- related student activities at the Center for Advanced Vehicular Systems (CAVS). Mississippi State University engineering program participates in Challenge X, Mini-Baja and Formula competitions.
Tennessee Technological University (TTU), Cookeville, Tenn.
$100,000.00 This grant is dedicated to the development of a Capstone Design Laboratory. Every TTU Electrical and Computer Engineering student is required to participate in the capstone design program, a comprehensive, team-executed industry/client-driven experince. Teams execute a project from conception to completion, inlcuding simulation, design review, implementation, testing, written reports and oral demonstration and presentation. The lab has been renovated and restructured and to provide necessary support for hands-on industry experience.
Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tenn.
$100,000.00 This grant support the development of a Biodiesel Engine Test Facility. The facility is used for the training of three groups: (1)ME students as part of their core laboratory curricuulum, (2)mechanical, chemical and environmental engineering seniors involved in capstone projects in biodiesel design and (3) student volunteers involved in campus-wide recyling and biodiesel production. This grant is dedicated to the acquisition of a 4-cylinder diesel engine.

08 Nov 2006

Michigan Technological Univers
$400.00 This grant is dedicated to the support of the Advanced Motor Sports Enterprise (AMS), specfically, the Challenge X project, now its third year. This is a four-year joint project of the US Department of Energy and General Motors. The competition challenges enginering students from universities throughout North America to integrate advanced automotive technologies and alternative fuels, such as hydrogen, ethanol and biodiesel to minimize total environmental impact and build a sustainable transportation future.

02 Sep 2005

American Red Cross, National C
$25,000.00 A contribution to the disaster

13 Jun 2005

California State University Lo
$75,000.00
Tennessee Technological Univer
$75,000.00
Miller College, Battle Creek,
$97,000.00
University of Michigan, Dearbo
$250,000.00
Five year grant
Michigan Technological Univers
$30,000.00

28 Oct 2004

The Ohio State University, Co
$75,000.00

22 Oct 2004

American Red Cross, Cape Girar
$20,000.00

12 Aug 2004

Univerity of Tennessee, Colleg
$75,000.00
Michigan Technological Univers
$60,000.00
Pellissippi State Technical Co
$150,000.00
Mississippi State University,
$30,500.00

03 Nov 2003

American Red Cross Disaster Re
$100,000.00

19 Jun 2003

University of Tennesee, Knoxvi
$50,000.00
Michigan Technological Univers
$35,000.00
Michigan State University, Eas
$75,000.00
This is two year grant

13 May 2003

American Red Cross, Jackson, T
$50,000.00

25 Oct 2002

California State University, L
$27,000.00
Michigan Technological Univers
$35,000.00

24 Jun 2002

Tennessee Technological Univer
$120,000.00
This complex will support the
University of Detroit Mercy, C
$150,000.00
Western Michigan University, C
$100,000.00

23 Aug 2001

East Tennessee State Universit
$66,000.00
Michigan Technological Univers
$35,000.00
Kettering University, Flint, M
$100,000.00
Vanderbilt University, Nashvil
$41,500.00

31 May 2001

Lawrence Technological Univers
$225,000.00
Tennessee Technology Center, A
$5,000.00
Grant is dedicated to the supp
Kellogg Community College, Bat
$34,000.00
Grant is dedicated to the conv
California State University, L
$34,000.00