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.

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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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