Generative Design -- Killer Combination of Machine Learning, 3D Printers and Cloud Computing

Autodesk has really broadened its scope since I first started working with them back in the 1980s (I guess if they did not they would have gone out of business :-) and has become a real thought leader in manufacturing.

Below is Autodesk's definition:

"Generative design mimics nature’s evolutionary approach to design. Designers or engineers input design goals into generative design software, along with parameters such as materials, manufacturing methods, and cost constraints. Then, using cloud computing, the software explores all the possible permutations of a solution, quickly generating design alternatives. It tests and learns from each iteration what works and what doesn’t.”

Here is a link to Autodesk's video on Generative Design. 

This is why I think Generative Design really is a killer combination of Machine Learning, 3D Printers and Cloud Computing.