Remember Big Frog, the French Challenge at the Reno National Air Races?

The Reno National Air Races are the fastest races in the world. Aircrafts compete in breathtaking races 50 ft above the ground, driven by the famous motto: “Go fast, fly low, turn left!”

An american specialty, the only foreign victory ever was French: Michel Detroyat way back in 1936 on a Caudron with a Renault engine.

Big Frog wanted to follow Detroyat’s track, with an extra-challenge: use a diesel-cycle engine!

A candidate of choice for the Passion for Innovation Program, which welcomed the Team, providing them with CATIA, SIMULIA and Dassault Systèmes experts’ support. Read the full story here.

For their first participation in Reno this year, the Team established on wednesday a whole set of World Premières :

- first diesel-powered racer designed and simulated on computer (with our CATIA and SIMULIA solutions)

- first diesel-powered aircraft to succed in qualifying at the Reno National Air Races

- and above all, first diesel-powered aircraft victory and in his first race!

This first victory rewards the skills, involvement and passion of the whole Team and the excellence of French technologies, including our 3D design and simulation solutions, the SMA innovative diesel-cycle aero-engine and the perfect intergration of all those elements in the NXT airframe thanks to the Passion for Innovation Program.

Last but not least, congratulations to the pilot, French Air Force Captain Christophe Delbos. Usually a Mirage 2000 fighter pilot, “Bobos” (his official pilot nickname) made a perfect race. Diving on the first pylon like an eagle, he grabbed the race first position right from the start and kept it during the race six laps! According to him, the aircraft went quite well, allowing him to fully concentrate on clean trajectories until he heard the “Race finished” announcement in his helmet.

Once a curiosity after his qualification, Big Frog is now one of the stars of those 2011 Reno Air Races. No doubt Michel Detroyat would be proud of his successors.

Gentlemen, you have a victory! May it be the first one of a long collection!

Keep 3D-ing,
Rich

We have all heard of the Dog Whisperer. It’s been viewed as the ultimate guide to providing solutions for your problematic pooches. Each episode documents the remarkable transformations that take place by teaching and helping dogs and their owners achieve happier lives together.

Great if you have dogs, but what if you are having problems with “production” man’s other best friend?

Manufacturers in any industry from a large OEM to a small systems integrator are often challenged with properly teaching and programming their production robots.  Getting them to correctly perform the required operations and tasks on the factory floor can be as difficult as trying to keep Fido from eating your favorite pair of slippers.

You can’t encourage them to sit, stay or spot weld with their favorite squeaky toy or just sit down with them and have a conversation over a nice cup of coffee at break time.  Manufacturers need the right solutions to ensure their productions systems best utilize the robots for optimum performance, efficiency and flexibility.

The latest installment of (you guessed it), the Robot Whisperers, the online e-series by Dassault Systemes, robot experts Mike and Tony will show a few tricks to better assign and validate spot welds with robots in production.

Now, I am not talking about getting your robots to roll over and beg. But the guys will demonstrate how to simulate and validate robotic spot welding applications utilizing 3D software to help your robots become more loyal and obedient.

In episode 3, Robotology for Spot Welding, Mike and Tony will also discuss how 3D simulation allows engineers to  create “what-if” scenarios in the virtual environment with just a couple of clicks of the mouse. That’s certainly better than dragging a bunch of robots around the shop floor to physically test the different programs necessary for production. Plus they will have some fun talking about the solar system and Aunt Irene’s Farm – no kidding!

So if you are having relationship issues with your robots and just can’t get them to accurately perform the 1000’s of spot welds they do every day, a doggy treat or a pat on the servo motor is not going to help you.  Log onto the Robot Whisperers today and see why this e-series is your ultimate guide to happier, healthy relationships with your robots!

Enjoy!

Marc

PS: here is the e-series introduction for those of you who missed it:

Be Authentic…Do What’s Right…Simplicity…Mobility Services…New Usages…

Sustainable Mobility to address pending environmental, economical and social issues…

There is a new generation of car users, people who feel responsible for their environment. Citizens of all social categories, who strive for the right measures to be taken.

If this means something to you and your passionate about being part of the solution then the eCar Design Challenge is where you can express yourself!

Dassault Systèmes, in collaboration with 40 Fires, is hosting this international design challenge for professionals, students and design enthusiasts.

The car will transport 2 passengers and their luggage with ease. It will have a carbon fibre monocoque. The vehicle will be powered by H2 fuel cell technology, driven by 4 hub motors, one in each wheel. This innovative technology will allow a completely new design layout and therefore a fresh approach to the architecture of the vehicle. For recycling reasons the car body will be finished in raw carbon. New usages & services need to be invented together with a holistic company-philosophy that will seriously address the pending environmental, economical and social issues. Aerodynamics will play a key role in the vehicle design and therefore the car’s frontal footprint must be taken into account.  The vehicle should be aesthetically advanced without being shocking.

Awards: The winning designer will come with DS to the Frankfurt Auto Show in September and present to professionals and the public

The Jury:

• Anne Asensio who leads the Design Studio at Dassault Systèmes
• Christopher Reitz the head designer at Riversimple
• Guest star to be announced…

3 phases:

• Sketch It (13th June to 17th July) – post your 2D sketches (3 exterior views + 2 interior views)
• Model It (18th July to 28th August) – the 5 finalists chosen by the community and the jury will be supported by DS to model their designs in 3D
• Experience It (29th August to 9th September) – the winning design will be integrated into a 3D virtual experience illustrating the new usages and services

Registration and submission details can be found on the eCar Design Challenge community, just follow the video below to logon and get access:

Good luck and have fun!

Yours sustainably,

Jonathan