Autodesk Interns: The Summer of Fabrication

Autodesk CEO, Carl Bass, once said "'If I ask a Product Manager, can our product do this?' He always responds 'Of course it can do that.' I want to know from real world experience what our products can and cannot do. I look to experts who take on special projects that demonstrate the power of what we build and the realistic limitations as well." The Corporate Strategy & Engagement team is on the case to put the proof in the pudding. Towards this end, interns Becky Abramowitz, Brittany  Presten, Maya Kremien, Philippe Videau, Sarah Angle, and Steven Helminen have joined us this summer to exercise A360 and Fusion 360 from concept at our One Market office through fabrication at our Pier 9 location.

	Becky Abramowitz Becky is majoring in Mechanical Engineering and Applied Mechanics at the University of Pennsylvania. She's held several leadership roles as part of her work on the FIRST Robotics competition including lots of fabrication. Related to and in addition to that, Becky co-wrote a mobile app that captures, stores, and retrieves scouting information on her competitors' robots.
	Brittany Presten Brittany is a glutton for punishment. This is her fifth year interning at Autodesk (started in high school) where she has done stints with our Gallery and Bio/Nano teams. She is a biomechanical engineering major at Stanford and will graduate in June 2016. It is quite possible that this summer we may embark on a "human versus computer" project where the gang of six designs something one way and then uses our Within Lab or Project Dreamcatcher software and generative design to craft its alternative. We could compare the two fabricated designs.
	Maya Kremien Maya is studying at the California College of the Arts, working on a Master of Fine Arts in Design, and will graduate in May 2016. Maya has worked with and even helped other students operate the CNC machines at school. She won for wooden toy design from Pastel Toys.
	Philippe Videau Philippe is working on his Bachelor's in Aerospace Engineering at UCLA and will graduate in December 2015. Our Autodesk Gallery at One Market has an exhibit about cloud-computing and generative design based on our work with Airbus and the design of a concept airplane. Philippe was involved in that project.
	Sarah Angle Sarah is working on her Bachelors of Science in Mechanical Engineering at Cornell and will graduate in May 2016. Our CEO, Carl Bass, CTO, Jeff Kowalski, VP. Brian Mathews, and my boss, Jon Pittman, VP of Corporate Strategy, all went to Cornell, but I did not hold that against her. Sarah designed and manufactured an air motor creating parts on lathe and mill from aluminum and steel. She once taught a workshop to aid students in Introductory Chemistry for Engineers. She has also worked with 3D printed robots.
	Steven Helminen Steven is studying at Michigan Technological University for a Bachelor's of Science in Mechanical Engineering and will graduate in December 2015. In addition to building his own 3D printer, Steven has collaborated with engineers at Ford to evaluate armrest designs for optimal safety and structural targets. He helped get the CNC machines on the school's network.

We are looking forward to a fresh perspective on how we can improve Fusion 360 and A360.

Fresh eyes are alive in the lab.