Autodesk Names Renewable Energy Company as April Inventor of the Month for
Design of Electricity-Generating Devices
SAN RAFAEL, Calif., April 29 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Autodesk has named
Green Ocean Energy Ltd. (Green Ocean), a renewable energy company
headquartered in Aberdeen, Scotland, as the Autodesk Inventor of the Month for
April 2009. Green Ocean successfully used Autodesk Inventor software in the
development of the Ocean Treader and Wave Treader, floating devices that
convert the motion of the ocean into clean, renewable energy.
The Ocean Treader is much like a buoy with a pair of arms, and is meant to
be moored one to two miles offshore in open water. The Wave Treader shares a
similar design but is intended to be mounted on the base of a static offshore
structure, such as a wind turbine or tidal turbine. Both devices work on the
same principle: as the ocean causes the floating arms to rise and fall, the
motion is harvested by hydraulic cylinders that generate electricity, which
can then be exported back to shore via cable.
The Inventor of the Month program recognizes the most innovative design
and engineering advancements made by the extensive community using Autodesk
Inventor software - the foundation of the Autodesk solution for Digital
Prototyping. A digital prototype is a 3D digital model of the entire end
product, used to virtually explore and validate a product before it is built
to reduce the necessity of constructing physical prototypes.
Digital Prototyping Tests "Seaworthiness"
One of the primary challenges Green Ocean faced was building a device that
could withstand the rough waters of the North Atlantic, where wave heights
range from a relatively small six to 10 feet, to as much as 30 feet during
winter storms. Every working part of the Ocean Treader needed to be thoroughly
analyzed and tested to help make it have the strength to survive in such a
powerful and dynamic environment.
"Fortunately, Inventor is more than just design software; it's an analysis
tool too," says George Smith, managing director at Green Ocean. "Inventor
allows us to validate our designs on the computer before there's any
investment made in constructing a physical prototype."
Modeling in 3D - combined with collaboration from Autodesk reseller and
training partner Imass Design Solutions - has allowed Green Ocean to
efficiently develop working prototypes of the Ocean Treader and Wave Treader.
These models have allowed the company to prove its concept through extensive
indoor wave-pool testing. The team is currently raising funds to develop a
full-size prototype to start offshore testing in 2011.
"The race is on to find the best way to harness energy from our natural
resources, and Inventor is helping Green Ocean innovate its way into a
frontrunner position," said Robert "Buzz" Kross, senior vice president,
Manufacturing Industry Group at Autodesk.
About the Autodesk Inventor of the Month Program
Each month, Autodesk selects an Inventor of the Month from the more than
800,000 users of Autodesk Inventor software, the foundation for Digital
Prototyping. Winners are chosen for engineering excellence and groundbreaking
innovation. For more information about Autodesk Inventor of the Month, contact
us at IOM@autodesk.com.
About Green Ocean Energy Ltd.
Green Ocean Energy Ltd. is a renewable energy company headquartered in
Aberdeen, Scotland. The company is dedicated to developing technology that
will allow the harnessing of energy from the Earth's oceans in a way that is
harmonious to the environment and economically viable, thereby providing a
clean and sustainable source of energy. For additional information about Green
Ocean Energy, visit www.greenoceanenergy.com.
About Imass Ltd
Imass Ltd is a leading UK-based IT provider of practical and integrated
software solutions to customers within the public safety, utilities and
manufacturing design sectors.
Imass Design Solutions
Imass Design Solutions is Autodesk's leading UK partner operating in the
oil, gas, nuclear and manufacturing sectors. The team, operating out of
Newcastle upon Tyne and Aberdeen, supply 3D computer aided engineering design
software, as well as specific third party software applications and
consultancy services. The group supports over 600 organisations, with 75% of
customers located in the North East of England and Scotland. Imass runs an
Autodesk authorised training centre, delivering certified training courses to
over 300 delegates per year. In addition, the team has software development
capabilities and is a member of Autodesk's developer network. The team
provides solutions to help customers maximise their investment in design by
managing and sharing data effectively across the entire enterprise.
www.imass-ids.co.uk
Imass Limited is an Infoterra company, part of EADS Astrium, Europe's
leading space systems and services specialist.
About Autodesk
Autodesk, Inc., is a world leader in 2D and 3D design software for the
manufacturing, building and construction, and media and entertainment markets.
Since its introduction of AutoCAD software in 1982, Autodesk has developed the
broadest portfolio of state-of-the-art Digital Prototyping solutions to help
customers experience their ideas before they are real. Fortune 1000 companies
rely on Autodesk for the tools to visualize, simulate and analyze real-world
performance early in the design process to save time and money, enhance
quality and foster innovation. For additional information about Autodesk,
visit www.autodesk.com.
Editorial Note:
An interview with Green Ocean Energy is available on the Autodesk YouTube
Channel at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nWooWDAYuAU.
Autodesk, AutoCAD, 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) 2009 Autodesk, Inc. All rights reserved.
Contact: Clay Helm 415.547.2425 Alyson Moses 312.297.7430
Email: clay.helm@autodesk.com alyson.moses@edelman.com
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SOURCE Autodesk, Inc.
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Web Site: http://www.autodesk.com
http://www.greenoceanenergy.com
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