Jeff Brennan's Anatomy-Based Industrial Design Software
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Most people look at the cross section of a human bone and see an incomprehensible tangle of sponge-like scaffolding. Jeffrey Brennan sees a secret mathematical formula for the design of lighter, stronger car and airplane parts.
The mechanical engineer learned about bone topology while studying for his master’s degree at the University of Michigan under Noboru Kikuchi, an engineer who was looking for ways to encourage bone growth to repair damage from diseases such as osteoporosis. Brennan thought the same mathematical principles could be applied to product design. When he finished his program in 1992, he brought the idea to Altair Engineering, which liked it and hired him.