MEMORANDUM

TO: Dr. H. Jack, P. Eng.

FROM: Scott Woodard

SUBJECT: Manufacturing Technologies/Design Engineering Show

DATE: 3-11-97

Professor Jack:

Several things come to mind concerning the recent excursion to the manufacturing technologies and design engineering trade show in Chicago. The first thing that caught my eye was the diversity that is incorporated into some of the new CAD packages that are currently available. Not only do they seem more user friendly (speaking as someone who has always had a hard time using CAD packages), the range of tasks that they are capable of doing is something that could only previously be done by importing the drawing into several different design/analysis packages and then combining the results at the end. The robotics systems that were being displayed were also something that I am sure caught everyone's eye. The range of complex movements (turning/grasping) that they were capable of performing immediately got my mind racing envisioning several different applications that a system such as this could be used for. The vibration dampening/energy absorption systems that several manufacturers were displaying were another item that caught my attention. I immediately could think of several unique applications where one or more of these systems could be employed. I would have to conclude by saying that the thing that I liked the most about the whole experience was the thoughts and ideas that it put into my head concerning the way that things are currently done verses the way that things could be done.

Regards,

Scott Woodard