CIMdata PLM Industry Summary Online Archive
5 May 2008
Implementation Investments
PTC Announces Innovation Design Contest Winners
PTC announced the winners of its “Redefining Innovation Product Design Contest 2008.” Launched around the globe, the contest asked designers to use PTC Pro/ENGINEER® 3D parametric CAD/CAM/CAE software to develop innovative, product-changing designs. The top three winners showed a common vision with their submissions, to design or redesign a product that can improve the way people play, live and work.
The Grand Prize was awarded to Scott Buckner of the United States, designer of the Easy Oar system. This drop-in rowing rig was designed for a canoe or other small craft to allow the oarsman to face forward in the direction of travel. With no significant improvements to a forward facing rowing system since the late 1800s, Scott’s design goal was to overcome the awkward style of propelling a small boat with oars while facing backwards.
Scott Buckner said he was delighted to be named as the Grand Prize Award winner, explaining how Pro/ENGINEER helped him develop a more sophisticated, but easy-to-use, rowing rig. “Pro/ENGINEER reliability and powerful capabilities allowed me to design this system without having to create a prototype at each step of the process. This capability gave me more freedom to try multiple design styles without the expense of multiple prototypes. I had great fun working with Pro/ENGINEER.”
The Runner Up Award went to Benjamin Mahan of the United States, designer of the Predator Facial Armor System Technology (FAST). This redesigned facial armor system upgrades the ballistic coverage of current U.S. military helmets to create an effective facial armor system that can be used in conjunction with currently fielded helmets. Ben’s design goal was to provide lightweight, maximum ballistic protection and coverage while not degrading or inhibiting a soldier’s peripheral vision.
The Second Place Award went to Koert Vanoverbeke of Belgium, designer of the TNI Tellus Smart. Koert’s goal was to provide a solution to people who are speech-impaired. The TNI Tellus Smart is a compact, trendy-looking, hand-held communication device that provides a graphical way to communicate. Powered by picture-driven software, users gain back the basic freedom of communication by resuming contact with friends and family.
Robert Gremley, divisional vice president marketing, PTC, said, “It is great to see so many innovative designers using PTC Pro/ENGINEER. The power and design possibilities that PTC’s software offers enabled this group of people to create the types of products that can change a person’s life. The diversity and sophistication of entries received from around the world was astonishing. Every submission had great merit, but ultimately the judges had to select the top three designs.”
The contest was sponsored by Manufacturing Business Technology. The judging panel was comprised of six global members representing media, industry analyst firms, universities and PTC/USER. PTC/USER is the Independent Voice of PTC Customers Worldwide™. Criteria used during the judging process included uniqueness of concept and its approach to unmet customer needs, marketability of product, the ability to manufacture the product and the ease of generating consumer interest.
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