Competition Sponsored By Frustum, GrabCAD

Frustum has announced the winners of its, "Generate Quadcopter Challenge: A GrabCAD Challenge for Topology Optimization." Hosted on the GrabCAD Community platform, the challenge invited participants to use Frustum's cloud-based generative design and topology optimization software, Generate, to optimize the design of a lightweight, 3D-printed quadcopter.

Using Generate and traditional CAD modeling software, designers were asked to create an optimized quadcopter airframe design using constraint-driven design methodology. Judging criteria included mass reduction from meta design space, payload delivery, takeoff, flight for 50 meters and soft landing, flight time, ingenuity of design space(s), design aesthetics, and ingenuity of load case(s).

"Working with the GrabCAD team and its brilliant and global community of engineers, gave us a myriad of innovative designs," said Jesse Blankenship, CEO and founder of Frustum. "We had more than 200 entries, most embracing the freedom additive manufacturing brings and creating designs not possible with traditional manufacturing techniques."

"I am incredibly honored to be selected as the winner of this challenge," said Salva Serrano, first-place winner and co-founder of Ootro Estudio, an Orihuela, Spain-based architectural and design studio specializing in 3D modeling and digital manufacturing. "With my proposal, I tried to explore the possibilities of Generate as a structural design tool. I focused on securing the entire frame utilizing the topology optimization process - from the landing feet to the arms that hold the motors. It was fun to watch the software sculpting the shape of the frame as a virtual Michelangelo."

Noted third-place award winner Michael van der Bent, improvement engineer at Thyssenkrupp Accessibility, a stair lift manufacturer based in the Netherlands: "I had used Generate previously and the GrabCAD challenge gave me an opportunity to dive back into the software offers significant optimization potential in material savings, product weight, and strength, all of which contribute to a better overall design," When using the topology optimization, Generate allowed me to quickly see results and create multiple iterations faster than any other software I've used."

Design submissions were evaluated by a panel of Frustum employees, including Blankenship; Robert Wilson, president of Aerospace Advisory Group and former president and CEO of Honeywell Aerospace; and a member of the GrabCAD software organization. The winners received cash prizes of will receive cash prizes of $2,500, $1,000, and $500 respectively, as well as a free subscription to the Generate platform.
Winning Entries for the Generate Quadcopter Challenge: A GrabCAD Challenge for Topology Optimization:

1st - Salva Serrano
Alicante, Spain
Quadcopter Drone
https://goo.gl/VuKuk4

2nd - Carlos Fuentes
US
The Generate Quadcopter Challenge
https://goo.gl/nUK8UN

3rd - Michael van der Bent
Schiedam, Netherlands
Topologie Optimised Quadcopter
https://goo.gl/UeV9Lx

(Source: Frustum media release)

FMI: www.frustum.com/blog/generate-grabcad-quadcopter-challenge-winners-announced