Bioengineering receives donation of sensors from alumnus

DETROIT (Oct. 7, 2014) - The Wayne State University Department of Biomedical Engineering is pleased to announce that they have received a generous in-kind donation of sensors from alumnus York Huang, president of Sunrise Instruments. The sensors will be utilized by undergraduate and graduate students in biomedical engineering to assist them in research related to safety in the automobile industry.

Huang (pictured right) graduated with his Ph.D. in mechanical engineering with a focus on impact biomechanics from the College of Engineering at Wayne State University in 1995. Of his donation Huang explains, "While studying here at Wayne State University to earn my Ph.D., I learned a lot and it helped me get my start in the industry. I am happy to be in the position where I can give back to WSU and help future students conduct their important research in automobile safety." A donation ceremony was organized by Professor King-Hay Yang of the biomedical engineering department and assisted by professors Albert King and John Cavanaugh, who served as York Huang's co-advisors during his time at Wayne State University. In addition, more than 20 research faculty and graduate students attended the ceremony.

Also on site for the donation ceremony was associate dean for research and graduate studies Simon Ng, who thanked Huang stating, "We are very grateful for you to remember us and keep in touch by coming back with this very generous donation." The chair and professor of the biomedical engineering department, Juri Gelovani, added, "It is a testament to the flourishing strength of this program to have alumni like Dr. Huang representing us in the industry. This donation will help undergraduate and graduate students develop the skills that will ultimately benefit society by increasing automobile safety."

The sensors will be used in the Bioengineering Center directed by center director Yang. The university chartered Bioengineering Center is a modern research powerhouse with the principal aim of promoting fundamental discoveries, designing and developing technologies for human safety, and educating students in the understanding, mitigation, and prevention of impact associated injuries.

The donation was made through Huang's company, Sunrise Instruments (SRI). SRI is one of the leading developers and manufacturers of six-axis force/torque sensors for robotics and automation and automotive durability and crash tests. The company has an office in nearby Novi, but also has international sales offices in China, Taiwan and Korea.