CHICAGO, Mar 21, 2002 (BUSINESS WIRE) --

Offers Students Ease of Use and Powerful Solid Modeling Capabilities

Autodesk, Inc. (Nasdaq:ADSK), the world's leading design software and digital content company, today announced that the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) is integrating Autodesk Inventor software into its curriculum to prepare students for professional success using the latest in 3D mechanical design. Autodesk Inventor software's ease of use and powerful solid modeling capabilities help students secure jobs and internships as they begin their engineering careers. In addition, the innovation behind Autodesk Inventor and its momentum in the marketplace make it an essential addition to the university's engineering curriculum.

UIUC has an Autodesk software site license and had been teaching AutoCAD and Autodesk Mechanical Desktop software. This academic year, the university decided to replace its instruction of Autodesk Mechanical Desktop with Autodesk Inventor -- a more powerful 3D solid modeling software program.

"Autodesk Inventor has been a rousing success. Ease of learning is probably the most important improvement we have seen in moving from Autodesk Mechanical Desktop to Autodesk Inventor," said Jim Leake, director of Engineering Graphics, Department of General Engineering at UIUC. "Autodesk Inventor has proved to be extremely popular with our students. The level of detail and complexity of design project modeling improved dramatically once Autodesk Inventor was adopted. This is perhaps the most practical course they will have, and their work with a parametric modeler like Autodesk Inventor will help them secure a job after graduation."

Freshman students in the "Engineering Graphics and Design" course are creating concept design models such as dune buggies, human-powered submarines, commuter aircraft, and robotic arms. Civil engineering students are even using the kinematics features in Autodesk Inventor software to add motion to civil designs such as drawbridges and retractable-roof sports stadiums. Students are able to build sophisticated assembly models after only four weeks of instruction. Leake plans to further expand Autodesk Inventor software's usage in the curriculum by making the software the cornerstone of a "CAD/CAM/CAE" course that will be introduced in spring 2003.

"Clearly Autodesk Inventor is a force in the manufacturing industry, and we are pleased to see so many fine institutions incorporating the software into their curriculum," said Robert Kross, vice president of the Manufacturing Division at Autodesk. "Because Autodesk Inventor offers both powerful capabilities and ease of use, students now have the tools they need to transform their ideas into concrete machine designs."

About Autodesk

Founded in 1982, Autodesk, Inc., is the world's leading design and digital media creation, management, and distribution company. The company serves a diverse portfolio of markets, including building design, geographic information systems, manufacturing, digital media, and wireless data services. By delivering tools that foster innovation and creativity, Autodesk helps customers throughout the value chain leverage digital design data to work better, faster, and smarter. For more information about the company, see www.autodesk.com.

Note to Editors: Autodesk, AutoCAD, Autodesk Inventor, and Mechanical Desktop are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Autodesk, Inc. in the United States and/or other countries. All other brand names, product names, or trademarks belong to their respective holders.

CONTACT: Autodesk, Inc. Cindi Goodsell, 415/507-8452 cindi.goodsell@autodesk.com URL: http://www.businesswire.com Today's News On The Net - Business Wire's full file on the Internet with Hyperlinks to your home page.

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