At the recent International Manufacturing Technology Show (IMTS), there was an undeniable trend: a significant presence of cloud technology in the manufacturing sector, prominently featuring major names like Google Cloud, AWS and Microsoft. This venue was also where Machine Design met Tyler Nelson, a principal engineer from Pan Optimization, a pioneering firm in the simulation software domain, that was founded in 2022 by its CEO Pan Michaleris, Ph.D., and Chief Engineer Erik Denlinger, Ph.D.
In this final of a three-part series, Nelson and Denlinger talk about the cautious stance that the aerospace and defense sector has when it comes to cloud adoption. Denlinger noted that while his team remains open to cloud solutions if there is a customer demand, their primary focus is guided by the unique requirements of their client base. Currently, many aerospace and defense companies exhibit a notable aversion to the cloud, primarily due to stringent security and privacy concerns. Nonetheless, Denlinger points out the ease of transitioning local applications to a cloud environment should the demand arise.
Machine Design also asks about artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning. While these technologies are hailed as revolutionary, Denlinger expresses skepticism about their immediate applicability and solutions tailored for geometric modeling. The primary breakthroughs in AI, particularly in language processing, don’t directly align with the geometric challenges faced in manufacturing. The limitless nature of geometric problems suggests that traditional AI approaches may not provide the desired advancements in the field.
Nelson talks about the context of practical applications and stresses the importance employing the right tools for specific tasks, especially in industries where input data can be substantial and expensive to manage. Both experts highlight that while cloud computing offers certain advantages, such as unparalleled computational power, it may not always be the best fit for the intricacies of aerospace components.
Looking forward, Denlinger and Nelson see a bright future for optimizations that go beyond current limitations, hinting at innovations and areas such as topology optimization for manufacturability. Their belief in the untapped potential of advanced simulation tools is clear, with hopes to reshape methodologies in aerospace and defense manufacturing.
Watch additional parts of this interview series with Erik Denlinger and Tyler Nelson:
