It’s that time of year again. The holiday season has come and gone, we’re finally used to writing “2017,” and yes—it’s time to start planning AU Las Vegas 2017. As part of our ongoing commitment to our community (yep, we’re looking at you), we want to hear your ideas, your needs, and your ambitions for the next AU. What do you hope to learn at AU 2017? What do you want to achieve outside the classroom? Is there a particular field or practice you’d like to focus on that was under-represented in the past? Anything specific, academically or otherwise, you think we can do better? How about an exp... READ MORE >

You hear a lot about carbon fiber these days. It’s difficult to find another substance that delivers so much strength while being so light. Those characteristics make it an important material in automotive, aerospace, and other industries, because it enables us to make vehicles lighter but no less strong. The lighter the vehicle, the less fuel it requires. The less fuel it consumes, the lower the emissions. That’s the good news. But carbon fiber has a few drawbacks, as we learn from Andrew Maxey, founder of Vartega Carbon Recycling LLC, in the latest Innovation Zone presentation from AU 2016.... READ MORE >

Have 10 minutes and want to learn something about technology and where it’s headed? Want a mind snack instead of a full AU class mind meal? You’re in luck. Introducing: the Innovation Zone. At AU Las Vegas 2016, in addition to 700+ classes, panels, and workshops, we also tried something a little different. We set up a stage and invited diverse experts and innovators to share bite-sized bits of thought leadership. READ MORE >

SPOILER ALERT: technology is changing rapidly! That’s right—you heard it here first: the worlds of AEC, manufacturing, and media & entertainment are evolving as new tools create new design possibilities and enable new ways of working. This shouldn’t be news to anyone who works in these industries. This rapid evolution has been going on for decades. And the pace of change is showing no signs of slowing down. If anything, it’s accelerating, and the changes that lie ahead over the next decade could be as great (or, let’s face it, greater) than the changes the past decade has brought. READ MORE >

Core77.com recently featured a story on AU speaker, professional drone pilot, and AI enthusiast Eli D’Elia, who envisions a drone that’s “AI-grown and AI-flown” —that is, both designed and flown by computers. And he thinks it will appear in the not-too-distant future. While autonomous drones may sound like something out of the next Star Wars installment, the idea is actually not that far-fetched. Several companies, including D’Elia’s Eagle Eye Metrics, are already dipping their toes into this pond. D’Elia has partnered with Autodesk to design the Hooligan 1000 racing drone, using the Autodesk... READ MORE >