The Engineering Technology (ET) Department at Middle Tennessee State University serves a rapidly growing undergraduate population of over 600 students in its B.S. ET and Mechatronics Engineering programs, with a new M.S. in Mechatronics launching in Fall 2026. As AI increasingly defines modern engineering practice, our curriculum currently lacks sufficient hands-on instructional tools in AI-enabled robotics, reinforcement learning–based control, autonomous navigation, and human–robot interaction—skills essential for workforce readiness and student job placement.
This proposal requests instructional equipment to address this gap: six Unitree Go2 X quadruped robots equipped with 4D LiDAR and onboard cameras, six TurtleBot 4 mobile robots with 2D LiDAR and stereo vision, and ten NVIDIA Jetson Orin Nano Kits for onboard AI processing. These resources will be integrated into ENGR 3540 and ENGR 4530, as well as future graduate-level courses, enabling students to design, implement, and test AI-driven navigation, gesture-based control, multi-robot coordination, and autonomous behaviors.
The equipment will directly support experiential, project-based learning aligned with ABET student outcomes, strengthening students’ abilities in problem solving, experimentation, and use of modern engineering tools. Approximately 150–200 students annually will benefit through coursework, capstone projects, undergraduate research, and extracurricular activities, preparing them for careers in Tennessee’s advanced manufacturing and automation sectors.
Housed in the Engineering Makerspace, the equipment will be shared across ET and Mechatronics programs, ensuring high utilization and broad impact. This investment addresses a critical curriculum need, enhances student engagement and retention, and positions MTSU as a leader in AI-integrated engineering education.
