Case Study: First Inspires enables robotics teams to design personal flying machines with SolidWorks

FIRST Robotics Teams Take Flight with the SOLIDWORKS xChallenge

First Inspires aimed to engage FIRST® Robotics Competition teams in a hands-on design experience that would expand students’ CAD and creative skills. SolidWorks answered with the SOLIDWORKS xChallenge 2019, using xDesign and xShape on the 3DEXPERIENCE platform to task teams with designing a one-person flying machine and to introduce parametric and subdivision modeling tools to participants.

SolidWorks ran the xChallenge with an online community, clear judging criteria, and substantial cash awards (1st $10,000; 2nd $5,000; 3rd $3,000; 50 runner-up teams $500), building on prior success to broaden student access to professional design tools. The initiative by SolidWorks increased engagement across FIRST teams, gave students practical experience with 3DEXPERIENCE apps, and provided measurable incentives that encouraged wide participation.

First Inspires