In the aftermath of the university’s recent announcement of $8.3 million in budget cuts, the College of Engineering has managed to add to its assets.

Thanks to a gift from Caterpillar Inc., a new mechatronics laboratory located in Hoover Hall will be dedicated at 3:30 p.m. Friday in the building’s lobby.

Mechatronics is a combination of engineering technologies used to create a single product, said Brian Steward, assistant professor of agricultural and biosystems engineering.

“Mechatronics is just a recognition that modern products are a mixture of engineering areas,” Steward said.

The equipment Caterpillar designs and produces combines hydraulic, mechanical and computer technologies, he said. The new Caterpillar Mechatronics Laboratory provides a setting for students to use mechatronics systems. Steward said students will get to learn through real, hands-on experience.

“This sort of facility allows students to be better-trained and better-able to deal with situations they will face when they graduate,” he said. “That is a big bonus.”

Steward said the Segway Human Transporter is a great example of a mechatronics product.

“It has great mechanical design, but what really makes it work is the computer inside it,” he said. “You have to have all the pieces to make it work.”

James Melsa, dean of the College of Engineering, said students from five engineering departments — aerospace, agriculture and biosystems, mechanical, industrial, and electrical and computer — will use the laboratory.

“All of these areas are linked together by mechatronics,” Melsa said. “This will bring students together from different areas in a common lab. They will work together like they would in the engineering field.”

Melsa said partnerships with companies like Caterpillar are important during times with tight budgets.

“They provide resources which we wouldn’t be able to afford,” Melsa said.

He said Caterpillar also offers ISU engineers summer internships, jobs and leadership training.

“They provide other resources besides money, such as know-how and connections to real-world experience,” Melsa said. “These are equally important to us.”

The dedication ceremony will include mechatronics equipment demonstrations by Caterpillar executives and ISU mechatronics professors will be on hand to answer questions. Melsa and ISU President Gregory Geoffroy will also be featured speakers.