A Decade of Collaboration: The Volvo Group and The Integrated Innovation Institute
Over 10 years and 10 capstone projects, the Integrated Innovation Institute and the Volvo Group have gained valuable insights from each other.
By Hannah Brelsford
The Master of Integrated Innovation for Products & Services (MIIPS) program prepares students to lead innovation through hands-on experience. Throughout their studies at the Integrated Innovation Institute (iii), students work on real industry challenges, including a capstone project that solves business problems for a corporate sponsor.
Students are divided into thoughtfully curated cross-functional teams, combining their diverse backgrounds in engineering, design, and business. These teams are then partnered with industry sponsors. Sponsors bring tangible industry problems to the table, while students bring fresh perspectives and interdisciplinary breakthrough solutions.
During the capstone project, students collaborate closely with a company to ensure the solution's feasibility and alignment with the company's needs. The student's final projects include comprehensive plans and go-to-market strategies that sponsors can effectively implement in their operations.
Without our corporate sponsors, students would lack access to the industry experience that can launch their careers. As a result of these projects, many patented products and services have been brought to market by our sponsors.
The Integrated Innovation Institute has over 35 years of capstone project experience and 20 years of sponsor collaborations across nearly 50 corporate partnerships. Connections with companies extend beyond project work, opening doors to further collaboration opportunities.
The iii’s longest-standing collaborator is the Volvo Group. For a decade, our students have worked with the Volvo Group on 10 capstone projects, using their classroom knowledge and innovation to create impactful market solutions.
The Volvo Group
Since 1927, the Volvo Group has been revolutionizing the automotive and equipment industries from its Swedish headquarters. With innovation deeply embedded in its culture, the organization has been an ideal capstone project partner for the MIIPS program for over a decade.
At its core, the Volvo Group's mission is simple yet ambitious: 'Drive prosperity through transport and infrastructure solutions.' This people-first philosophy has earned the company numerous awards for safety innovation and sustainable design, reflecting its commitment to exceptional customer experience.
The Volvo Group's leadership in safety and sustainability extends across several divisions that partner with the Integrated Innovation Institute:
- Mack Trucks: Producing medium and heavy-duty trucks for freight and vocational transportation
- Volvo Construction Equipment: Manufacturing innovative building and construction machinery
- Volvo Group Connected Solutions: Developing integrated technology solutions across all Volvo divisions
- Volvo Innovation Lab: Working with partners to identify and create innovative solutions
“We strongly believe in these academic collaborations. These students are the next workforce, but they are also a blank slate. We can take a real-world problem for Volvo Group and give it to these students and they look at it with a totally fresh perspective.”
- Maggie Oren, Senior Strategic Partnership Manager, Volvo Group Connected Solutions Innovation Lab
A Look Back
Let's reflect on a decade of collaborative partnerships through various student projects.
SiteAware — 2015
Project completed by: Cheng Li (Vanessa), Karan Shah, Mengqi Wang, Pedro Mendes, Sanika Kokate, Stephen Krotseng
Safety remains one of the construction industry's greatest challenges. With complex equipment operating in dynamic environments, protecting workers and bystanders is paramount - a priority that perfectly aligns with Volvo Construction's values. In 2015, the Volvo Group partnered with MIIPS students to tackle a critical safety issue: eliminating dangerous blind spots around construction machinery.
The result was SiteAware, an innovative integrated safety system that creates a protective bubble around construction equipment. The system combined multiple technologies to ensure comprehensive safety:
- LIDAR scanning with 360-degree horizontal and 40-degree vertical coverage
- RGB cameras that provide 130-degree visual monitoring
- RFID tags worn by workers to track their proximity to equipment
- Perimeter lighting that creates visible safety boundaries
- Audio warnings that alert both operators and nearby personnel
SiteAware's user-friendly interface allows operators to quickly identify and respond to potential dangers. The system fuses data from multiple sensors to create complete situational awareness, protecting both workers and pedestrians while improving operational efficiency. By removing safety concerns that traditionally slow down work, SiteAware helps construction sites maintain both safety and productivity.
This innovative solution demonstrates how the student team successfully balanced cutting-edge IT trends with practical safety needs to shape the future of construction safety.
“Working with Volvo on our capstone project was an exciting privilege - I learned a great deal about emerging technologies in the construction and safety fields, all with the enthusiastic support of an engaged and prestigious sponsorship partner. I have fond memories of the time I spent working on that project - including our final presentation at Volvo Ocean Race in Newport, Rhode Island - and have carried the experience with me through my career since graduation.” - Stephen Krotseng (MIIPS '15)
Common Cab — 2018
Project completed by: Wyatt Hagen, Shawn Koid, Tejas Kashyap, Rebecca George, Matthew Dworman, Sijia Li
The 2018 MIIPS student team working with the Volvo Group confronted a critical challenge facing the construction industry: bridging the gap between manual operation and autonomous control. As skilled worker shortages threatened productivity and safety, they designed the Common Cab – a revolutionary system that transforms how construction sites operate.
The Common Cab was a glimpse into the future of construction. By integrating 6-8 cameras and a drone into Volvo's compact excavator, operators could now control complex machinery from a remote location with unprecedented precision. Imagine controlling a massive excavator as if you were sitting inside it – but from the safety of a control room.
Key innovations include:
- 360-degree visual integration (front, backup, top, and aerial views)
- Laser-projected critical information directly onto cab windows
- Remote operation capabilities that expand what's possible on a construction site
- Familiar control interfaces from existing Volvo excavators that minimize operator training time
By allowing operators to work smarter, not harder, the Common Cab addressed critical industry challenges: worker safety, skilled labor shortages, and operational efficiency.
"My experience with the Volvo capstone project was invaluable in understanding the depth and complexity of human-machine interaction within a rapidly evolving industry. Working closely with Volvo allowed me to engage deeply with innovative concepts around HMI, teleoperation and operator-machine connectivity. This project was not only about engineering but also about enhancing the operator's experience and promoting enhanced safety and productivity in autonomous and semi-autonomous operations. It highlighted Volvo's commitment to integrating cutting-edge technology while respecting the critical role of human oversight and interaction.” - Matthew Dworman (MIIPS'19)
MackCare — 2024
Project completed by: Ayushi Shah, Daniela Decoud, Dev Vijh, Gina Xiao, Isabella Qiu, Jordana Tinto, Krutin Kanumuri
Most recently, the 2024 MIIPS student capstone team tackled a critical challenge facing small business owners: the complex world of truck ownership and maintenance. Their target? Mack's medium-duty truck line– the most common truck for small business owners and the best options for those who operate within crowded and busy cities.
Small business owners face a perfect storm of challenges: limited time, financial constraints, and minimal maintenance expertise. Trucks are the backbone of local commerce, yet many owners struggle with routine service, often choosing reactive repairs over preventative care. This approach doesn't just risk truck reliability - it threatens business survival.
Enter the student’s solution, MackCare: A revolutionary service designed to transform truck maintenance from a burden to a strategic advantage.
Key Features:
- Subscription-based maintenance service for medium-duty Mack trucks
- On-site technician visits that come directly to the business
- Mobile app for easy scheduling and maintenance tracking
- Comprehensive post-service reports with actionable insights
How MackCare Works:
- Customers enroll after truck purchase
- Annual maintenance scheduling prompts
- Technicians arrive on-site at the customer's business
- Detailed service report provides transparency and future maintenance guidance
More than a service, MackCare represents Mack's commitment to customer success. By removing maintenance complexity, the program helps small businesses focus on what matters most: growing their operations.
The result? Safer trucks, reduced long-term costs, and a partnership that goes beyond traditional manufacturer-customer relationships.
"Working on the MackCare project was an incredible experience that allowed me to apply what I learned at MIIPS in a new subject area of mechanical engineering. Collaborating with a diverse team added another layer of growth as we each brought unique perspectives, yet were united by a shared goal. This opportunity with Volvo taught me the impact even the smallest design decisions can have on millions of people. The experience of contributing to a company at this scale was both inspiring and humbling, and it’s something I’m truly proud to have been a part of." -Ayushi Shah (MIIPS '24)
Bridging Education and Industry
For a decade, the iii and the Volvo Group have forged a transformative partnership that does more than teach - it prepares the next generation of innovators to solve real-world challenges.
This collaboration goes far beyond traditional academic sponsorship. Through direct engagement with Volvo's diverse subsidiaries - including Volvo Construction Equipment, Volvo Group Connected Solutions, Volvo Innovation Lab, and Volvo Mack Truck - students gain unparalleled insights into complex industry problems.
Partnership Highlights:
- Guest lectures from Volvo professionals
- Internship and career opportunities
- Real-world capstone projects that drive innovation
The MIIPS degree's capstone project is more than an academic exercise - it's a launchpad for professional innovation. Students don't just learn about industry challenges; they actively develop solutions that matter.
As we look forward to our 11th year of partnership in 2025, the iii and the Volvo Group continue to prove that true innovation happens when education and industry collaborate.
