What’s the difference between topology optimization and generative design—and why does it matter when building advanced components? In this hands-on lab, we’ll explore the tools and workflows that helped Elara Aerospace design a launch-ready, record-breaking rocket built to survive the extreme forces of spaceflight. You’ll follow guided exercises in Autodesk Fusion software, learning how to harness both generative design and topology optimization to reduce mass, increase strength, and improve overall performance under tight constraints. We’ll walk through how to define loads, constraints, and materials. We’ll cover how to interpret and compare outcomes. And we’ll explore post-process geometry for manufacturability. You’ll gain practical experience in setting up a generative design study, comparing it with topology optimization, and understanding when and why each approach is appropriate. By the end, you’ll understand the theory—and have built and optimized a component for spaceflight-level performance.

How do we take innovation from one part of manufacturing and ignite transformation in another? In this session, we’ll continue the Autodesk–ModuleWorks journey around the Manufacturing Data Exchange Specification (MDES) and explore a bold new chapter: the emergence of third-party Autodesk Fusion plug-ins that bring advanced technology directly to the shop floor. We’ll spotlight SmartRoughing, the next-generation roughing toolpath initially launched in partnership with Kennametal. See a live example of how MDES and an open ecosystem allow deep tooling know-how to be deployed seamlessly inside workflows. But this session will go beyond just one toolpath—it’ll introduce "cross-pollination of manufacturing technology,” where ideas leap across disciplines to unlock new value. We’ll also preview how this approach is paving the way for technology in emerging areas, demonstrating how the same innovation model can extend manufacturing into the industrial mainstream.

There is no single way to design a new product. The design principles needed to manufacture a coffee maker will be different from those needed for an electric vehicle. So, why can’t today’s software tools adapt to meet designers' needs? Generative AI may offer a path forward to enabling product designers to adopt agile and adaptive design workflows and support the design of complex assemblies. In this interactive session, we’ll take an in-depth look at an early-stage software prototype for AI-assisted assembly design, developed by Autodesk Research. Participants will gain insights into how the researchers used large language models (LLMs), multimodal data, and system modeling to design products from 1D to 3D. Join us if you’re a product designer, software engineer, or UX designer interested in advancing your understanding of assembly design and learning how this new innovative technology can shape the future of Design and Make industries.

In this session, we will travel on the journey of how students and staff at NYU created Project Mjolnir: the world’s first open-source, adaptive mountain bike to enable those with disabilities to participate in the sport of adaptive mountain biking. We’ll look at how we help students develop industry skills through experience-based learning, the methodologies we use, and the outcomes we produce with a project that goes beyond the boundaries of the university. The team has built and ridden more than 20 adaptive mountain bikes in different parts of the world, enabling people with disabilities to experience the outdoors in ways they never thought they could. Incorporating design to accommodate off-the-shelf bicycle components, an adaptable frame design, and the ability to self-build the bike, we aim to drive down the cost to a third of current offerings—as well as empower and grow a community of adaptive bike builders through educational experience-based learning.

Everywhere you look within Autodesk University, from mainstage to industry keynotes, everyone is talking about Autodesk Fusion software. You've heard how it’s Autodesk’s design and manufacturing platform and that it’s growing faster than any other software in the industry. But you likely still wonder what it’s like to actually use it. Fusion must be something truly special to make everyone so obsessed with this CAD/CAM tool, right? In this AU hands-on lab, you'll experience firsthand what the fuss is all about. Through hands-on exercises, learn how to create a design from scratch, analyze that design, and even optimize it. Then, you'll learn how to program your design for computer numerical control (CNC) milling so you can turn your idea into a reality. You heard that Fusion is the complete end-to-end solution, but now you'll have the opportunity to experience it in action, guided by a team of experts. If you're curious about Fusion, but have never tried it yourself, this beginner-friendly lab is for you!

Assembly design is on the edge of a transformative leap. This session will introduce a groundbreaking approach that harnesses agentic artificial intelligence (AI) to redefine how we conceive, simulate, and build complex assemblies. We’ll explore early-stage research and prototypes demonstrating how intelligent agents can collaboratively generate geometry, streamline workflows, model dynamic systems, and adapt designs in real time based on performance feedback. If you work with systems design, simulation, or multidisciplinary workflows, this session will challenge your assumptions and offer a glimpse into the future of AI-augmented engineering. Prepare to rethink what’s possible!

Get started with the brand new Assembly Constraints experience in Autodesk Fusion. This short and snappy session will teach you how to set up and use constraints to assemble components efficiently. You'll learn the key methods for creating constraint connections between components to speed up your assembly workflows. We'll cover real-world examples from industries like consumer products, highlighting the versatility and power of Fusion Constraints in different contexts. Whether you're a beginner or an experienced user, this class will equip you with the essential skills needed to master Fusion Constraints. Don't miss out on the chance to learn how to use this brand new Fusion feature in your workflows.

When friends reminisce about the 70s, 80s, and 90s, receiving a musical greeting card for their birthdays was truly a joyful experience. Gently unfolding the paper card to hear the Happy Birthday song was a simple yet delightful pleasure. Even after the birthday, revisiting the heartfelt wishes written by friends while listening to the melody brought back cherished memories, often accompanied by a smile. These moments are among the beautiful memories of that era. Inspired by these nostalgic thoughts, why not create a DIY mini rabbit bell and bring it back to home to share with others about the special moment from Autodesk University? Fusion is excellent for seamless integration of MCAD and ECAD. In this 90-minute class, you will craft your very own Rabbit Bell from scratch using Fusion. You could bring one Rabbit Bell PCB board back to home.

Interested in catching up on improvements made to Autodesk Fusion this year? Looking to take full advantage of Fusion software’s end-to-end platform capabilities? Join us for a chance to catch up on everything that’s changed in the last 12 months. You'll have an opportunity to discover new and exciting capabilities, see firsthand how customers are succeeding with this new functionality, and find out how the Fusion platform can unlock powerful new workflows. Learn more about unlocking advanced designs, manufacturing more-complex components with a focus on data at the center.

This award-winning panel is back again with new topics to discuss and insights to share. This year, the panel will comprise a diverse group of CAD managers who are widely respected as leaders in their field. They will focus on connectivity, which can mean many things to a CAD manager. Topics will range from technology and data to the even more challenging human aspects of teams and workflows. Hear their unique perspective and learn about solutions to challenges faced by CAD managers from organizations of all sizes and backgrounds. Join us for a panel discussion that has become an anticipated AU tradition. You won’t want to miss this chance to hear the important lessons learned from decades of experience—from four CAD managers who have been there and done that.

Sit down with the Inventor product team and discuss your most-pressing issues, concerns, and questions about Inventor. A number of Inventor team members will be available to answer your questions. What are the best practices for maximizing your Inventor use? How are Inventor projects prioritized and chosen for each release? Where is Inventor going in the near future? Model States, BIM workflows, Drawings, Sheet Metal, Autodesk Fusion vs. Inventor—all your favorite topics will be open for discussion.

Dr. Tonya Custis, senior director of artificial intelligence (AI) at Autodesk, draws on 20 years of experience in AI research to explore both the limitations and the transformative potential of AI in design workflows. While powerful, AI is often misunderstood—it’s frequently perceived as a catch-all magical solution rather than a tool with specific strengths and weaknesses. As AI becomes more commonly used in daily life, expectations rise for its role in professional tools. The best way to move beyond the hype, fear, and uncertainty surrounding AI is to develop an understanding of its history, limitations, and the types of tasks it’s best suited to help with. In this session, Dr. Custis will demystify how AI actually works, examine current trends, and outline the unique challenges of applying AI to design workflows—particularly those involving complex 3D design data. She’ll also share some recent work from the Autodesk AI Lab, offering a glimpse into the current state of AI in design and what the future may hold.

Discover how Autodesk and Microsoft are revolutionizing everyday design and review workflows in Fusion by leveraging cutting-edge AI technology to transform their customers' workflows. Autodesk has become a frontier firm by adopting this innovative, best-in-class AI technology, setting new standards in the industry. Stephen Hooper, VP of Design & Manufacturing Product Development at Autodesk, and Kathleen Mitford, Corporate Vice President, Global Industry Product Marketing at Microsoft, will share how their teams are: - Automating time-consuming design tasks to reduce manual effort, allowing teams to focus on higher-value work. - Simplifying product reviews to speed up collaboration and approvals. - Enabling teams to tell stronger stories through clearer, more compelling outputs. This interactive session also provides attendees the opportunity to ask Stephen and Kathleen questions about their pioneering partnership and the AI-enabled solutions they’re bringing to market.

The landscape of automotive design is rapidly evolving, driven by the transition to electric architectures and the emergence of agile new competitors. This evolution places immense pressure on design studios to streamline their development processes. At Autodesk, our AI teams are dedicated to assisting these studios in unleashing their creative potential and achieving unprecedented levels of productivity. At this year's Automotive Innovation Forum, we gave a tech preview of Form Explorer, the first AI capability delivered within Alias software. With Form Explorer, automotive concept designers can effortlessly generate and refine 3D concepts within seconds, seamlessly transforming them into functional SubD surfaces. This creates the potential to expedite the creation of proportional exterior designs. This groundbreaking tool harnesses a fusion of AI capabilities exclusive to Autodesk, paving the way for a suite of innovative design interactions within Autodesk's arsenal of tools.

The manufacturing industry finds itself at a pivotal juncture. Accounting for 20% of global carbon emissions and 54% of the world's energy usage, the sector also confronts mounting regulatory pressures, consumer demands, and volatile energy prices. All manufacturers increasingly need a sustainability strategy. However, for many companies the path toward truly sustainable manufacturing remains complex and challenging. What tangible actions and innovative tools, technologies, and processes can manufacturers use from cradle to grave to drastically reduce their environmental impacts, while simultaneously improving productivity and profitability? Join key industry players, including Xometry and Gravity, to learn how manufacturers can drive measurable sustainability gains while boosting competitiveness. Our panelists will highlight innovative technologies, including Autodesk MSI, that manufacturers can adopt to drive emissions and cost reductions.

Difficult and costly importation of equipment. Lack of customized parts. Unavailable spare parts, especially in the remote areas where supply chains may be disrupted. These are some of the daily challenges faced by the staff of MSF (Médecins Sans Frontières—Doctors Without Borders). The 3D Printing for All project aims to democratize access to 3D printing and solve some of those challenges by getting 3D printing in MSF's projects, and developing procedures and guidelines on how to use it safely and efficiently. Describing design needs, context, and technical parameters for a CAD expert to make a design is critical to the production of the products that solve problems in the field. For the most part, the people who have the problems to solve do not have engineering backgrounds—and yet they have to provide precise information. Throughout the implementation of the project, we've experienced this communication gap, learned valuable lessons on how to minimize the number of iterations, and saved material and time involved in putting a product in use.

Join Ryan McMahon, general manager of Autodesk Informed Design to gain insights on how this platform tool enables Industrialized Construction. Roadmap and feature highlights as well as industry imact will be covered in this talk.

Unlock the power of Autodesk Fusion for Inventor users! Join us as we explore the dynamic world of Fusion software. Discover the essential variances between Fusion and Inventor, unveiling the unique strengths of each platform. Gain invaluable insights to optimize your workflow and enhance your design prowess. Elevate your skill set and embrace the future of CAD with Fusion for the Inventor user!

In this talk, we'll explore the transformative potential of generative AI (GenAI) in streamlining conceptual design processes. Our one-year collaborative journey with Kia Motors led to the development of a GenAI wheel concept design tool that bridges design inspiration to creation. Join the talk to discover how GenAI accompanies designers from establishing design directions to exploring design options, facilitating intuitive design workflows. Learn how to harness GenAI's capabilities to interpret designers' inspirations, generating limitless variants efficiently. We'll also discuss how we integrated design constraints into GenAI, providing designers with greater control. Join the conversation and explore the challenges and opportunities for GenAI to streamline your design workflows.

This will be a live demonstration of Alias 2025 software—showcasing the latest features in Alias 2025 and providing a sneak preview of new technologies under development. See firsthand how Alias is still an evolving and powerful surface modeling package for designers.