CMU researchers have created a technology called SketchCAD that’s intended to make it easier for engineers to develop 3D designs by enabling them to use a digital pen to sketch out their ideas on a tablet computer rather than fussing with mouse-and-menu-based design programs. The researchers say this setup tends to be more intuitive for engineers.
“The idea is to empower engineers and designers with tools that are already familiar to them and are the most natural for the task,” said Levent Burak Kara, an assistant professor of mechanical engineering at Carnegie Mellon, in a statement. The technology is already being used by Honda designers and could one day be used for applications such as surgery and teaching, the researchers say.
Here’s a YouTube video of SketchCAD in action:
