*PLEASE NOTE* This dynamic presentation on the health of marine ecosystems and the use of photogrammetry by the Hydrous is now part of the Wednesday presentation, "Stories from the Future of Making Things Experience," at 3:30 PM in the Theater.

The health of marine ecosystems is declining rapidly from the combined effects of climate change, like rising ocean temperatures, ocean acidification, and sea level rise, and these effects are compounded by more direct human impacts such as pollution and over-fishing. Despite overwhelming evidence of these problems, and the proven effectiveness of their respective solutions, ocean environments like coral reefs remain over-exploited, under-protected, and out of mind. Therefore, the Hydrous uses creative methods to support scientific discovery and translate research into public understanding and ocean conservation. The Hydrous uses photogrammetry to non-destructively create 3D models of coral reefs in the wild and from museum specimens, the data from which contribute to ongoing research, historical preservation, art programs, and ocean education. The Hydrous also creates immersive experiences for virtual field trips and 360 footage, which have been viewed online by millions. The ultimate goal of the Hydrous is to connect people to marine environments and increase ocean literacy- through expeditions, technology, and education- to so that our blue planet can be further admired, understood, and protected.

The session will provide an overview of the collaboration between Final Aim and Yamaha Motor to co-create a unique EV designed for agriculture. Using generative AI from the conceptual phase, the project exemplifies the integration of AI into industrial design processes to create innovative solutions for specific functional requirements. Generative AI facilitated extensive ideation, producing more than 2,000 design ideas—which led to a distinctive, practical vehicle design with high visibility and load-bearing features. In parallel, the project incorporated blockchain technology to manage and safeguard design data, intellectual property, and design contracts, demonstrating an advanced approach to maintaining data integrity and authenticity in the manufacturing industry. The project highlights the capabilities of generative AI and blockchain in design and manufacturing. It addresses the complexities of design process, data, and intellectual property in the era of AI-driven creation.

When asked to design some fishing lures, I found myself wishing that I knew Alias® software. However, I just didn't have the time to learn new software and dove into the project with Inventor 3D CAD software. Along the way I learned some valuable tips and tricks about working with complex lofts and surfaces. In this class, I explain the evolution of several fishing lures. I cover the entire process: concept sketching, surfacing, mold analysis, and finally, the finished solid models. We go over lofting good practices that make future edits much easier and with far fewer failures. We also review exactly what surfacing can do for you in day-to-day modeling.

We’re living on this planet as though we have another one waiting in the wings. The world is already 1.1 degrees Celsius warmer than it was during its preindustrial years, and current emissions levels suggest that the planet will warm by an estimated 4 to 5 degrees Celsius by the end of the century. Climate change affects everything—geopolitics, economies, ecosystems, and agriculture. It shapes and defines our cities, our life expectancy, and our very existence. But as U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres has pointed out, “The climate emergency is a race we are losing, but it is a race we can win.” With technology spanning architecture, engineering, construction, product design, and manufacturing, our customers touch every aspect of our environment. This affords us in a unique opportunity to influence how things are designed and made in this critical race against time. This session will guide you through the key aspects of sustainable design and how our tools can address them. Together we can create a BETTER WORLD!

Construction is the last sector (after agriculture, manufacturing, and mining) that continues to throw thousands of people at a problem, working with chronically low productivity in physically and mentally challenging conditions. The time has come to apply learning from other sectors and vastly increase productivity in both the design and delivery of assets. The shift to digital design is accelerating, thanks to sophisticated, data-driven tools that go beyond BIM (Building Information Modeling). Algorithmic simulation, machine learning, and generative design vastly accelerate the process. Better still, they generate far more possible solutions, which means better outcomes. Meanwhile, new forms of construction are harnessing the benefits of manufacturing. Construction “platforms” combine design, manufacture, and procurement principles holistically to ensure a greater degree of rationalization and integration. Manufactured components can be used across sectors creating high, constant demand and economies of scale.

Automation and robotics have helped manufacturing, retail, and agriculture industries increase productivity by 1,500% since 1945 (McKinsey 2017). In contrast, however, construction productivity has remained relatively stagnant during the same time period. For the robotics industry, construction presents potential use cases and unique applications that can utilize a variety of evolving technologies, from drones, ground robotics, teleoperation, machine vision, additive manufacturing, and assistive robotics. Automation has been implemented in other industries to solve challenges associated with labor productivity, material waste, quality control, and so on—but why not construction? This panel will bring together representatives from the architecture, engineering, and construction industry with technology and thought leaders from the robotics community to develop a collective understanding of the problems and opportunities, and discuss how to take the next steps.

In many parts of the world, fragile supply chains, lack of standardization, and limited training in construction best practices are barriers to using locally sourced sustainable engineering materials. MASS Design Group has pushed the boundaries of design and construction in East Africa through the use of such materials, and has created opportunities to strengthen the construction industry to deliver innovative and sustainable projects. This session will present the Rwanda Institute for Conservation Agriculture and The Ellen DeGeneres Campus of the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund as case studies. We’ll discuss the rigorous research and testing required to validate the structural use of earth, timber, and lightweight-concrete construction. We’ll also explore how these designs were documented to assist construction workers in implementation, to assist supervisors by highlighting critical structural elements, and to assist designers in an analysis of environmental impact.