CHICAGO, National Design & Engineering Show, Feb 26, 2004 /PRNewswire-FirstCall via COMTEX/ -- Autodesk, Inc. (Nasdaq: ADSK), the world's leading design software and digital content company, today announced that the Graduate School of Engineering at Osaka University in Japan is training its students to design robots with Autodesk Inventor(R) Series software, the industry's best- selling 3D mechanical design package. The school's Department of Adaptive Machine Systems, Emergent Robotics Laboratory, which is at the forefront of intelligent robot research, is conducting research to increase robot autonomy by having the robot recognize its external environment and respond with movement.

Autodesk Inventor Series is the perfect 3D design solution for the graduate students at Osaka University because its industry-leading ease of use allows those who have no actual computer-aided design skills to design and produce intelligent robots. Further, its use of intuitive 3D models lets students execute their ideas in a short time frame.

"Graduate schools need to educate students in a two- to three-year time frame, therefore a tool that can be used immediately is very convenient," said Koh Hosoda, associate professor at the Department of Adaptive Machine Systems, Emergent Robotics Laboratory. "Using Autodesk Inventor Series, we are now able to quickly bring our ideas to reality."

Using 3D models makes it easy to create trihedral figures, projected drawings, and flat-pattern templates. By sending the models to the NC processing machine, the laboratory can carry out production itself -- shortening the product cycle.

"Autodesk Inventor Series is playing a critical role in the development of the next generation of engineering professionals," said Robert Kross, vice president of the Manufacturing Solutions Division at Autodesk. "Skills that they learn today will help these students become successful in their professional careers."

A Comprehensive Portfolio of Manufacturing Solutions

Delivering on its strategy to help customers create, manage and share their digital design data and solve critical business challenges, Autodesk offers the most comprehensive portfolio of integrated 2D and 3D design and data management solutions on the market. Autodesk's manufacturing solutions include Autodesk Inventor Series, the number one selling 3D mechanical design software, and Autodesk Inventor(R) Professional -- both with Autodesk Vault data management built in; AutoCAD(R) Mechanical and AutoCAD(R) Electrical software; and the Autodesk Streamline(R) collaboration service. In addition, customers can take advantage of widely available third-party applications purpose -- built for Autodesk software.

The easiest way to keep Autodesk design tools up-to-date is through the Autodesk(R) Subscription Program including Support services. For an annual fee, the program provides the latest versions of licensed Autodesk software, offering a budget-conscious way to stay current with the latest technology. For products like Autodesk Inventor Series and Professional, the program provides a timely cycle of new releases with rich new content as soon as it becomes available. Customers can also access Autodesk Consulting and Training services to maximize the value of their investment in Autodesk technology. For more information about Autodesk Subscription, visit www.autodesk.com/subscription.

About Autodesk

Autodesk is the world's leading design software and digital content company, offering customers progressive business solutions through powerful technology products and services. Autodesk helps customers in the building, manufacturing, infrastructure, digital media, and wireless data services fields increase the value of their digital design data and improve efficiencies across their entire project lifecycle management processes. For more information about the company, see www.autodesk.com.

Autodesk, AutoCAD, Autodesk Inventor, and Autodesk Streamline are registered 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.

    (C) 2004 Autodesk, Inc. All rights reserved.

    Contact:  Sarah Singleton, 415.318.4160
              Fleishman Hillard
    EMAIL:    singlets@fleishman.com

SOURCE Autodesk, Inc.

Sarah Singleton of Fleishman Hillard, +1-415-318-4160 or
singlets@fleishman.com, for Autodesk, Inc.

http://www.autodesk.com