Talk Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oXk1O6biJSE In this talk, I talk about why better engineering tools lead to a better world, the issues with the existing design and manufacturing system, what I've worked on a Plethora to accelerate the process, and some predictions about the future.

1. The Future of Tools
Nick Pinkston

3. Why care about tools?

6. Acceleration of Tech Adoption

7. How do we get better at
solving problems?

8. # Iterations by Field

10. Why is hardware
so slow?

11. High Complexity

12. Low Leverage Tools - Running 80’s Code

13. CAD: High Lock-in → Low Competition

16. Automation is Highly Manual

17. Manufacturing: A Complex Ecology

18. Idea Prototype Pilot Mfg. Setup Scale
CAD (Autodesk)
Outsourced Design (IDEO) Outsourced Manufacturing (Foxconn)
ERP (SAP)
Automation Integrators (Grohmann)
Production Equipment Builders (Haas)
MES (Hydra)
Raw Materials (Kaiser)eComm Raw Materials (OnlineMetals)
eComm Components (McMaster) Component Sourcing (Omnex)
Product Testing (UL)
Short-Run Manufacturing (Plethora)

19. Hardware
is not an
iPhone
app!

20. Software Analogies
→
Hardware Problems

21. Design
Debug
Compile
Run
Test

23. Design + Debug

24. Compile

25. Run

26. Test

27. What’s the point
of all this?

29. The Future

30. Design:
Shape Creation

31. Shapr3D

32. Ford’s Gravity Sketch

33. VR Product Testing

34. Design:
Augmentation

35. Generative Design

37. Automated front-end development using deep learning
(Ashwin Kumar)

38. Generating custom photo-realistic faces using AI
(Shaobo Guan)

39. Design:
Shape Search

45. Design:
Complex Systems

47. Simulation +
Testing

48. Finite Element Analysis

50. Manufacturing

52. Full-Stack Marketplace

54. VR Training

55. Self-Programming Automation

57. Engineering Superpowers

58. Thank you!