Autodesk makes software for people who make things. If you've ever driven a high-performance car, admired a towering skyscraper, used a smartphone, or watched a great film, chances are you've experienced what millions of Autodesk customers are doing with our software. Autodesk gives you the power to make anything, but some segments of the general public are not yet aware of that.
The Autodesk Gallery at One Market in San Francisco celebrates design — the process of taking a great idea and turning it into a reality. With about 60 different exhibits regularly on display that showcase the innovative work of Autodesk customers, the gallery illustrates the role technology plays in great design and engineering. Autodesk Gallery Ambassadors conduct gallery tours as a sideline to their day jobs. The tours provide ambassadors with opportunities to practice public speaking in front of small groups by informing visitors about what our customers imagine, design, and make using our software.
Sometimes exhibits from the gallery go on the road and appear at special events, like pop-up galleries that we have hosted in Paris, London, Tokyo, and Toronto. In contrast, sometimes exhibits are created for special events and then make their way to the Autodesk Gallery in San Francisco. For example, at last year's Autodesk University in Las Vegas, we debuted 19 new exhibits. Some of these may resurface in San Francisco.
The Engineering for Formula 1 exhibit is one such exhibit from AU:
People
Software
Formula 1 racing requires exacting engineering to succeed in races often decided by hundredths of a second, and as such, assemblies like a rear outboard suspension consist of over 100 parts.
Formula 1 racing requires exacting engineering to succeed in races that are often decided by hundredths of seconds. Mercedes-AMG Petronas Motorsport and Autodesk embarked on a collaborative research project to explore how generative design could be used to optimize complex structural systems to improve performance. The rear outboard suspension was the main focus of the project and consists of over one hundred parts. It serves a dual function of providing structural integrity when under maximum load while also providing additional downforce at high speeds.
The Mercedes-AMG Petrona team used generative design to design lightweight components that could meet high performance requirements and be manufactured using existing subtractive manufacturing equipment.
LEFT: part designed by an expert — RIGHT: part generatively-designed
The goal was to use generative design to design lightweight components in this assembly that could meet high-performance requirements and be manufactured using existing subtractive manufacturing equipment.
The early results are encouraging with the technology offering an opportunity to explore more designs in the concept development phase. This is due to design iteration times being cut by orders of magnitude by eliminating the need to remodel geometry for Finite Element Analysis (FEA) validation and manufacturing reasons. Viable concepts can now be developed in days and not weeks.
Thanks to the Autodesk Gallery team for the descriptive text for this blog post. Thanks to Senior Program Manager, John Schmier, for help with the images.
Autodesk has always been an automation company, and today more than ever that means helping people make more things, better things, with less; more and better in terms of increasing efficiency, performance, quality, and innovation; less in terms of time, resources, and negative impacts (e.g., social, environmental). Given the high demands of Formula 1 racing, this is an industry where competitive advantage is defined as doing more and better with less.
This is a moment that matters. The inevitability of more demand and the reality of less means an opportunity for something better. With advances in design and automation, lessons learned through adjacent industries and peers, and integrations across the technology spectrum, we can design and make a better world. Together, we can make anything.
The Autodesk Gallery in San Francisco is open to the public on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm. There is a guided tour on Wednesdays at 12:30 pm and a self-guided audio tour available anytime. Admission is free. Visit us.
Formulation is alive in the lab.
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