Autodesk Engineering Awards Program Honors FIRST Robotics Competition Team
from Kintnersville, Pennsylvania for Development of "Archimedes" Robot
SAN RAFAEL, Calif., May 2 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Autodesk, Inc.
(Nasdaq: ADSK) today announced that the Palisades High School Cybersonics
Technology Team, a FIRST Robotics Competition team, is the Autodesk "Inventor
of the Month" for May 2006. The Inventor of the Month program recognizes the
most innovative design and engineering advancements made by the extensive
community of users of Autodesk Inventor software, the world's best-selling 3D
mechanical design software and best choice for AutoCAD software users moving
to 3D.
(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20050415/SFF034LOGO)
The Inventor of the Month is traditionally an honor reserved for
established inventors, but this month, Autodesk recognizes the Cybersonics as
well as the nearly 30,000 participants of the FIRST (For Inspiration and
Recognition of Science and Technology) Robotics Competition who push the
boundaries of innovation in engineering and 3D design visualization. Since
1992, Autodesk has contributed approximately $72 million in software, and has
worked with the FIRST Robotics Competition to provide students the opportunity
to learn about the worlds of engineering and visualization.
According to Robert "Buzz" Kross, vice president of Autodesk's
Manufacturing Solutions Division, "We're proud to name the Cybersonics
Technology FIRST Robotics Competition Team the Autodesk Inventor of the Month.
Autodesk is involved with FIRST to help build passion for and interest in
science, technology and engineering in all student participants. While we
spotlight this team, we want to recognize all of the teams for their
dedication and hard work in demonstrating how to harness the power of 3D to
realize every imaginable idea."
This year's FIRST Robotics Competition tested the students' and their
robots' ability to fire foam balls through basketball hoops, plow balls into
floor goals and program a robotic vision system to navigate the robot.
The Cybersonics Technology Team hails from Palisades High School in
Kintnersville, Penn., and is comprised of 29 high school students. "The
students on the Inventor team have really taken to 3D model-based design using
Autodesk Inventor software," says David Beck, the Cybersonics team mentor.
"Designing in 3D enabled us to take our robot to the next level, as we were
able to virtually build several prototypes and test them using Autodesk
Inventor, improving the robot without causing any lost time. With only six
weeks to complete the robot, we needed every moment to count."
The team placed design emphasis on ball targeting and shooting mechanisms
after deciding to focus on scoring points in the 10.5-foot-high center goal
and being able to drive onto the platform. Before prototyping ball shooters,
the three person Inventor group researched pitching machines and recommended a
shooting mechanism that put back-spin on the ball -- creating lift and
extending range. The team was able to concurrently design the ball shooter,
the chassis, ball feeder and controls using Autodesk Inventor software to
create "Archimedes," their 2006 robot.
At the FIRST Robotic Championship in Atlanta, Ga., on April 28, the
Cybersonics Technology Team earned the Autodesk Inventor Award. This award is
presented to the FIRST team that best understands, documents and communicates
the distinct phases of the design process, from concept to production, using
Autodesk Inventor software offered to each team. Second place Autodesk
Inventor Award honors went to the Burning Magnetos from Charleston, S.C.
Students from Summerville High School, Fort Dorchester High School and Trident
Technical College made up this team. The Rookie Award Winner went to the
Fresta Valley Christian School in Marshall, Va. For more details on the 2006
award winners please visit www.autodesk.com.
Each month, Autodesk selects an Inventor of the Month from the more than
500,000 worldwide Autodesk Inventor customers. Winners are chosen for
engineering excellence and groundbreaking innovation that changes the way we
live, work or play. For more information on the Autodesk Inventor of the Month
program, contact us at IOM@autodesk.com.
About FIRST
Accomplished inventor Dean Kamen founded FIRST (For Inspiration and
Recognition of Science and Technology) in 1989 to inspire an appreciation of
science and technology in young people. Based in Manchester, N.H., FIRST
designs accessible, innovative programs to build self-confidence, knowledge,
and life skills while motivating young people to pursue opportunities in
science, technology, engineering and math. With the support of many of the
world's most well-known companies, the not-for-profit organization hosts the
FIRST Robotics Competition for high school students and the FIRST LEGO League
for children 9-14 years old. To learn more about FIRST and the FIRST Robotics
Competition go to www.usfirst.org.
About Autodesk
Autodesk, Inc. is a Fortune 1000 company, wholly focused on ensuring that
great ideas are turned into reality. With seven million users, Autodesk is the
world's leading software and services company for the manufacturing,
infrastructure, building, media and entertainment, and wireless data services
fields. Autodesk's solutions help customers create, manage and share their
data and digital assets more effectively. As a result, customers turn ideas
into competitive advantage, become more productive, streamline project
efficiency and maximize profits.
Founded in 1982, Autodesk is headquartered in San Rafael, California. For
additional information about Autodesk, please visit www.autodesk.com.
Autodesk, AutoCAD and Autodesk Inventor are registered trademarks of
Autodesk, Inc., in the USA and/or other countries. All other brand names,
product names, or trademarks belong to their respective holders.
(C) 2006 Autodesk, Inc. All rights reserved.
Contact: Jeannie Hornung, 415-318-4118
E-mail: hornungj@fleishman.com
SOURCE Autodesk, Inc.
Web site: http://www.autodesk.com
(ADSK)
