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At this year's Autodesk University, we celebrated the winners of the 2020 Autodesk Excellence Awards in the realm of Product Design & Manufacturing. These remarkable organizations were acknowledged for their groundbreaking work in redefining design and manufacturing processes, fostering positive change in their industries. Let's delve into how these trailblazers are leveraging cutting-edge technologies to push the boundaries of innovation.
**INNOVATOR OF THE YEAR**
Hyundai Motor Group New Horizons Studio, Mountain View, CA
Hyundai Motor Group’s New Horizons Studio recently unveiled a novel concept—a walking car that has captured global attention. This ambitious project, known as Elevate, is the first "ultimate mobility vehicle" capable of transforming into a four-legged walking machine. Unlike any other vehicle in existence, Elevate combines the functionality of a traditional car with the adaptability of a robotic walker.
The idea originated a few years back when Hyundai posed a bold question: "What if cars could walk?" Their answer came in the form of Elevate, which can traverse terrains that even the most advanced off-road vehicles cannot. The design process involved applying Autodesk’s generative design technology to create lightweight yet robust legs that can handle the immense torque generated by its electric motors.
While the primary motivation behind Elevate was to provide rapid, resilient transportation for disaster relief, its potential applications extend far beyond emergencies. Imagine a vehicle that can access areas previously unreachable by conventional means—this concept opens up endless possibilities.
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**INDUSTRY DISRUPTOR**
Briggs Automotive Company, Speke, Liverpool, UK
In the heart of the UK, Briggs Automotive Company (BAC) continues to redefine the supercar industry with its Mono model. Weighing in at just 570 kilograms, the Mono is a high-performance street-legal race car that prioritizes lightweight design without compromising speed or aesthetics.
For their latest iteration of the Mono, BAC employed generative design technology in Fusion 360 to engineer the car’s wheels. By specifying performance criteria, materials, and fabrication methods, the team utilized generative design to explore countless design options. The resulting wheel not only maintains BAC’s signature style but also achieves a remarkable 35% reduction in weight compared to its predecessor. Additionally, it can be manufactured using traditional methods on a 5-axis CNC mill.
This weight-saving measure contributed to an overall reduction of 10.5 pounds in the car’s total weight, enhancing both speed and fuel efficiency. For a company dedicated to optimizing performance, such advancements are game-changing.
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**ENGINEERING THE IMPOSSIBLE**
Firefly Aerospace, Briggs, Texas
Based near Austin, Texas, Firefly Aerospace is on course to establish itself as a leading player in the private space industry. With over 300 employees led by co-founder and CEO Tom Markusic, the company is closing in on the inaugural launch of Alpha, its small launch vehicle.
Developing spacecraft is undoubtedly one of the most complex engineering challenges, yet Firefly has embraced it head-on. Their engine designs generate an impressive 1 million horsepower—equivalent to running 1,000 high-performance sports cars simultaneously. Combining these powerful engines with lightweight, durable carbon fiber stages allows Firefly to produce rockets in a mere nine days.
Autodesk Inventor empowers Firefly’s engineers to maintain their rapid pace of innovation, while Vault facilitates seamless team collaboration. As Alpha prepares for its scheduled launch later this year, the entire industry watches with anticipation.
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**INDUSTRY COLLABORATION**
Reynaers Aluminium, Duffel, Belgium
Reynaers Aluminium specializes in creating innovative and sustainable aluminum systems for windows, doors, curtain walls, and other architectural products. Headquartered in Duffel, Belgium, the company boasts a workforce of 2,300 employees and serves clients across more than 70 countries.
With such a vast product portfolio, Reynaers faces the daunting task of managing nearly 50,000 pages of documentation. Each new product system requires approximately 800 pages of detailed information to cover all configurations. To streamline this intricate process, Reynaers integrated tools from Autodesk’s Product Design & Manufacturing Collection with existing enterprise systems.
This integration created a centralized hub of information accessible to both internal teams and external customers. Although the digital transformation journey is ongoing, Reynaers has already achieved significant progress by automating certain workflows and minimizing manual errors.
Click [here](#) to learn more about these inspiring initiatives.
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**MAKING A BETTER WORLD**
The Ventilator Project, Boston, MA
Founded amidst the global pandemic, The Ventilator Project aims to alleviate the critical shortage of ventilators. Since March 2020, the nonprofit has rallied over 200 volunteers worldwide, representing diverse backgrounds, united under one cause.
Leveraging funds raised through fundraising efforts, the team is developing a cost-effective, scalable ventilator called "AIRA." Feedback from medical professionals has been instrumental in refining the prototype, which evolved rapidly within weeks. Remote volunteers collaborated seamlessly using Autodesk Fusion 360 during the design phase.
Confident in AIRA’s potential, the team awaits FDA approval to commence production. Their efforts underscore humanity’s resilience and collective spirit in overcoming adversity.
This story highlights how technology and collaboration empower individuals and organizations to tackle some of the world’s greatest challenges. Stay tuned for updates on these transformative projects!