Mechatronics engineering celebrates program-changing equipment donation

By Caitlin Fillmore

Cal State Monterey Bay’s mechatronics engineering program – now in its second year – celebrated a ribbon-cutting and lab dedication on Wednesday, Nov. 19, in recognition of a $100,000 equipment donation from Keysight Technologies, an S&P 500 technology company.

“This is the first major donation for our nascent engineering program,” said Luis Cabrales, chair of mechatronics engineering. “It is very rewarding to see [Keysight Technologies] supporting our new program. They are world leaders in what they do.”

Keysight’s donation to the year-old, 100-student mechatronics engineering program included such equipment as 14 power supplies, eight oscilloscopes and eight digital multimeters. 

Keysight Technologies leverages mechatronics to give its clients “the ability to do things that required people to take risks,” said Doug Baney, corporate director of education for Keysight. By combining mechanical engineering, electrical circuits and automation, Keysight can map out big ideas –  how realistic it is to go to Mars, explore the deep ocean or help people walk again – as well as small ideas, such as if a car’s new window design will result in puddles splashing up into the interior.

Part of Keysight’s mission is to connect with mechatronics programs in its community. The company has made more than 100 donations to mechatronics programs in the U.S. After Cabrales reached out last year to inquire about buying Keysight equipment, the Santa Clara-based tech company decided to explore a deeper partnership.

“It all happened very organically,” Cabrales said. “CSUMB has provided resources to launch this program and make it successful. I believe Keysight representatives saw the potential of our program.”

“The equipment in front of you is what you will see in the industry,” Baney said during the ribbon-cutting. “You’ll be able to go in with confidence and do the job,” he added, addressing the students in the crowd of about 30 people attending the event..

Before this donation, the mechatronics engineering lab was virtually empty, Cabrales said. Part of the ribbon-cutting, attended by representatives from mechatronics, employers, community members and Hartnell and CSUMB students, was the renaming of the lab as the Keysight Mechatronics Lab.

Cabrales said the equipment will be used in classes where students practice electronic testing, such as electrical circuits, signals and systems, mechatronics, control and embedded systems. He also plans for the equipment to be used for senior design projects, the annual farm robotics challenge, faculty research projects and more. 

Nadia Allaf, a mechatronics technician for the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute, attended the ribbon-cutting. Allaf, who had to splice together mechanical engineering and robotics classes, and a mechatronics concentration to achieve her degree in 2020, said it was “really exciting” to see an investment in a mechatronics degree in her community and workforce.

“Not many schools have mechatronics as a major,” said Allaf, who uses robotics to collect “environmental DNA” from the ocean. “To get exposed to this kind of technology can open students' eyes to a different field that can be good for the world.”

For Allaf, mechatronics speaks to the way modern worksites actually function. Having a formal education in mechanical, electrical and software engineering makes a graduate valuable in today’s workforce.

“It’s hard to have one engineering [focus],” she said. “There’s always crossover on the worksite.”

The mechatronics engineering degree will see its first two graduates receive their degrees in Spring 2026. Two female transfer students joined the program for its first year in fall 2024. 

“We are very excited with everything that is going on with our engineering program,” Cabrales said. “The program is on the path to becoming a very successful, well-established program where students get a great educational experience.”