Kettering University students will be showing off the University’s “hands-on” culture in an exhibit at Maker Faire Detroit July 26-27 at The Henry Ford in Dearborn.

Maker Faire will feature more than 400 exhibitors during the festival, which celebrates invention and creativity. There is a wide variety of subjects, including robotics, electronics, rockets, food, music, fashion and science, among others. Exhibits feature demonstrations and hands-on activities for all attendees.

“The very nature of Kettering University’s experiential and co-op based education model is a perfect fit for the audience that will be at Maker Faire Detroit,” said Kip Darcy, vice president of marketing, communication and enrollment. “Our students, faculty, staff and alumni are highly creative and collaborative builders, and it’s great for them to be a part of the amazing atmosphere that always exists at Maker Faire Detroit.”

Kettering’s exhibit will have several fun features. The Kettering SAE team will have a competition vehicle on display. Metal Muscle, the Kettering-sponsored FIRST Robotics Team, will have its frisbee-throwing robot in action.

Two capstone projects from students in the senior design course of Dr. Kenneth Kaiser, professor of Electrical Engineering, are also sure to generate interest. The Raree Show project assignment had students construct a modernized Raree Show, or “peep show,” by creating a 30 second to 1.5 minute show, micro-processor controlled, using five silhouettes, one lens (opening) and one ‘ON’ button with the purpose of taking 2D objects and making them look 3D with light.

Another student project features an electronic jack-in-the-box, complete with a talking evil clown that pops out.

The exhibit will also have a display of Ion Lights, music-detecting, app-controlled mood lights created by a group of Kettering students who describe them as “the modern lava lamp.” The group successfully raised more than $70,000 in a Kickstarter campaign to fund the project in the spring.

“Maker Faire is full of creative energy,” Darcy said. “It’s going to be a lot of fun to see Kettering show off just a small sampling of the creativity that exists on our campus in a setting of like-minded makers, creators, builders and doers.”

There will also be a children’s activity table and giveaways at the booth. Any students interested in volunteering to staff the Kettering booth during the event can contact Roger Smith in the admissions department at rsmith1@kettering.edu.