Autodesk Provides Free Inventor Software, Curriculum and Annual Award to Give
Young Engineers a Head Start
LAS VEGAS, Autodesk University, Nov. 28 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ --
Autodesk, Inc. (Nasdaq: ADSK) today announced its continued sponsorship of the
F1 in Schools Technology Challenge. The annual challenge is a national
competition where middle- and high-school level students research, design,
analyze, manufacture and ultimately race their own scale model Formula One
cars. The mission of F1 in Schools and its sponsors is to raise the profile of
engineering among students and encourage engineering, science and technology
as career choices.
(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20050415/SFF034LOGO )
As the exclusive technology sponsor, Autodesk supplies participating
students and teachers with Autodesk curriculum and support, as well as
Inventor software, the world's best-selling 3D mechanical design software
product. At the F1 in Schools Technology Challenge, Autodesk also grants the
Autodesk Inventor Award to the F1 team that creates the best Inventor-designed
car and that demonstrates exceptional presentation and marketing skills.
"F1 in Schools is an incredible program, offering students the opportunity
to put a real-world creative brief into action and use leading technology
tools to execute it," says Paul Koontz, chairman, business development, F1 in
Schools, Inc. "The Autodesk sponsorship provides the financial and product
support to allow students to experience the entire design-to-manufacture
process."
For the challenge, students design a model CO2 powered F1 Car of the
future. Once the cars are designed, each one is analyzed for aerodynamics in a
virtual wind tunnel. The fixed design is then transferred into Computer
Numerical Control (CNC) language and manufactured on a CNC machine. Schools
without the required equipment to make their final model can link up to a
manufacturing center to have their car made. Teams must also produce
supporting evidence of their design including an orthographic projection of
the car and a color isometric drawing or 3D rendering of the final idea.
Prior to competing at the national F1 in Schools Technology Challenge,
many states hold elimination events. At these regional events, the young
design teams are judged on car speed, as well as on supporting evidence of
their design, a verbal presentation and production of a marketing display
stand. Judges look at safety, aerodynamics, engineering, aesthetics, quality
and manufacturing, race time and presentation. Educators involved are excited
to see students learning about physics, design, marketing, teamwork and
financial strategy in such an imaginative yet practical way.
"It's a privilege to be a part of something that gets students excited
about engineering, technology and teamwork," says Robert "Buzz" Kross, vice
president, Autodesk Manufacturing Solutions. "We are proud to sponsor another
year of F1 in Schools and look forward to seeing what these talented students
design."
There is also an international component to the competition where winning
teams from 22 countries are invited to compete at the F1 in Schools World
Championship. This year's U.S. winners from Breckenridge Middle School,
Virginia, and Bloomsburg Area High School, Pennsylvania, will compete at the
World Championship next March at the Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne.
"The challenge inspires students to use 3D engineering design in an
innovative, competitive and exciting way," adds Kross. "This is an experience
that will last well beyond their years in school and hopefully propel them
into an engineering career."
About F1 in Schools
F1 in Schools is a not-for-profit organization solely supported by
sponsors and partners. Launched in Britain in 2000, F1 in Schools now covers
the world. In November 2005, it received the backing of the Formula One group,
which granted a worldwide-protected trademark and logo. F1 in Schools is
acknowledged as highlighting some of the finest design and engineering minds
of the teen generation, including potential future Formula One design stars.
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 http://www.autodesk.com/.
Autodesk, Autodesk Inventor and Inventor are registered trademarks or
trademarks of Autodesk, Inc., in the USA and/or other countries. All other
brand names, product names, or trademarks belong to their respective holders.
Autodesk reserves the right to alter product offerings and specifications at
any time without notice, and is not responsible for typographical or graphical
errors that may appear in this document.
(C) 2006 Autodesk, Inc. All rights reserved.
Contact: Carly Herrig 312.233.1356 Alyson Howard 312.297.7430
Email: carly.herrig@edelman.com alyson.howard@edelman.com
SOURCE Autodesk, Inc. 11/28/2006
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Web site: http://www.autodesk.com
(ADSK)
6976 11/28/2006 08:30 EST http://www.prnewswire.com
