Festo Didactic, the educational arm of German automation giant Festo, is partnering with collaborative robotics manufacturer Dobot to showcase integrated training systems that bridge the gap between academic learning and industrial application. Their joint exhibit features the MecLab cobot station, a comprehensive platform designed to simulate various automation scenarios while providing hands-on experience with AI-driven smart manufacturing processes.

Raising the bar for technical competition at SkillsUSA

The mechatronics competition at SkillsUSA has evolved significantly from its early iterations, according to Alyssa Evans, technical support engineer at Festo and mechatronics technical chair at SkillsUSA.

“We’re working extremely hard to ensure that technical standards and best practices in industry are aligned with the curriculum and training needed to guide students down a pathway to compete here at SkillsUSA,” Evans said. “I look forward to being here every year because every year the competition gets stiffer.”

This year’s competition challenges more than 50 high school and college students to build complete mechatronics systems using Festo’s factory-simulated training equipment, including MecLab, MPS, fluid power, industrial controls, and ac/dc systems. Competitors must demonstrate proficiency in assembly, integration, and programming — skills that directly translate to modern manufacturing environments where systems integration expertise commands premium salaries.

The judging panel reflects industry’s serious investment in workforce development, featuring representatives from major manufacturers including Nissan, Denso, and Toyo Tires, alongside automation specialists from ATC, Reletech, and technical education providers. This industry-led evaluation ensures students are measured against current professional standards rather than outdated academic benchmarks.

Strategic workforce development initiative

Beyond competition, the event serves as a critical professional development platform for educators who will shape the next generation of engineers and technicians. Festo’s partnership with the National Coalition of Certification Centers (NC3) offers Train-the-Trainer sessions in Fundamentals of Industry 4.0 and Bionics4Education, providing instructors with industry-recognized certifications at significantly reduced costs.

“Last year’s training was such a success that SkillsUSA not only invited NC3 back but also expanded the offering,” said Lisa Marshall, Festo’s program manager at NC3. “It’s a fantastic opportunity for instructors — especially those attending SkillsUSA for the first time — to earn an industry-recognized certification at a significantly reduced cost while engaging with the nation’s top technical talent.”

Industry 4.0 skills gap reality

The collaboration between traditional automation leaders and emerging robotics companies reflects the rapidly evolving skill requirements in modern manufacturing. With over 30,000 certifications issued through Festo’s programs and 36,000 Festo-equipped educational institutions globally, the scale of workforce development efforts underscores the magnitude of the skills challenge facing the engineering sector.

The Festo Industry 4.0 Certification Program (FICP) represents a strategic response to employer demands for workers who can seamlessly integrate multiple automation technologies. As manufacturing becomes increasingly digitized and interconnected, the ability to work across traditional disciplinary boundaries — mechanical, electrical, software, and data systems — becomes essential rather than optional.

Winners from the 2024 and 2025 competitions will compete for positions on the team representing the United States at the 2026 WorldSkills Championship, highlighting the international dimension of technical skills competition and workforce development.

The partnership between established automation providers and emerging robotics companies at SkillsUSA 2025 signals a maturing approach to technical education — one that prioritizes practical integration skills over theoretical knowledge alone. For engineering professionals and educators, the event offers insights into how industry leaders are adapting training methodologies to meet the demands of increasingly sophisticated manufacturing environments.

As the engineering workforce continues to evolve, initiatives like these provide a roadmap for developing the interdisciplinary skills that will define the next generation of manufacturing professionals.

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• How can AI-driven tools improve communication and reduce project risks?
• How can we leverage data for better decision-making and sustainability outcomes?
• And how do architects, engineers, and builders use AI to break down silos and work better together?

Event speakers will delve into trends and more, providing attendees with a comprehensive understanding of how AI is driving innovation in the AEC industry. This year’s speakers include:

• Pedro Fajardo, BIM Manager, Princeton University
• Robert Yori, Digital Solutions Studio, AECOM
• Mojdeh Kasraie, AIA, NCARB, Senior BIM & Computational Designer, Buro Happold
• Elizabeth Christoforetti, Asst Professor in Practice of Architecture, Harvard University
• Luc Wilson, Director, KPF Urban Interface
• Sheldon McLeod, Interactive Visualization, SHoP Architects
• Dan Reynolds, AI Leader, Walter P Moore
• Steve Jones, Sr Director Industry Insights Research, Dodge Data & Analytics

To register for this event, visit msol.tv/techperspectivesny2025, and for more information, contact Anna Liza Montenegro at info@microsolresources.com.

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For robots to truly live alongside human environments, safety is crucial. Building a robot that meets stringent safety standards while operating efficiently takes a great deal of effort. Currently, mainstream robot manufacturers act as SI (system integrators), requiring significant human resources and time to coordinate numerous vendors responsible for different aspects of the robot’s architecture. Furthermore, because robot motion demands extremely high precision and real-time responsiveness, even minor integration discrepancies at any stage can lead to an unsatisfactory final product. This is without even considering the substantial time and resources required for each tier to obtain strict regulatory safety certifications.

NVIDIA is extending the success of NVIDIA Halos from autonomous vehicles to robotics and industrial applications with the founding of the NVIDIA Halos AI System Inspection Lab. This lab provides comprehensive AI robot inspection services. By leveraging the NVIDIA IGX Thor platform in conjunction with NEXCOM’s SIL2, PLd Cat.3 safety-certified motion modules and surrounding sensing modules, NEXCOM is helping to establish a complete robot development architecture and standard development platform. In the future, users will be able to develop motion control, AI, and functional safety applications for various robot types on a single platform, significantly shortening development and safety certification timelines from four to five years to as short as two years.

“Through the NVIDIA Halos AI Systems Inspection Lab, developers can save substantial time and human resources spent on obtaining various safety certifications,” said Jenny Shern, general manager of NexCOBOT. “This inspection system covers the critical AI computing and functional safety technologies required for robot design. Moreover, its modular design allows for flexible functionality expansion based on customer needs, enabling more adaptable robot deployments. NEXCOM will continue to strengthen its collaboration with NVIDIA to comprehensively build the next generation of AI robot applications.”

NEXCOM has a long-standing commitment to developing functional safety technology. Based on international standards such as IEC 61508 and ISO 13849-1, NEXCOM has created a range of functional safety hardware and software products that enable industrial and collaborative robots to more easily comply with ISO 10218-1 requirements. As a certified member, NEXCOM will now integrate its solutions with the NVIDIA IGX Thor NVIDIA Halos platform to build a one-stop functional safety standard development platform. This will streamline and accelerate robot function development and applications on a single platform, encompassing AI, motion control, and functional safety applications, thereby simplifying complex development processes and accelerating innovation.

To learn more, visit nexcom.com.

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Born from more than a decade of research, Pulsar processes data locally at the sensor level, eliminating the need to rely on brute-force compute in power-hungry edge processors or data centers to make sense of sensor data. Innatera claims that it also delivers up to 100 times lower latency and 500 times lower energy consumption than conventional AI processors.

The new microcontroller introduces a compute architecture based on Spiking Neural Networks (SNNs), a generational leap in AI hardware that processes data the way the brain does, focusing only on changes in input. This event-driven model reduces energy use and latency while delivering precise, real-time decision-making. Pulsar also combines neuromorphic compute with traditional signal processing and provides versatility by integrating a high-performance RISC-V CPU and dedicated accelerators for Convolutional Neural Networks (CNNs) and Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) in a single chip.

“By using brain-inspired Spiking Neural Networks, it brings real-time processing to ultra-low-power devices without leaning on the cloud. That means sensors that can think for themselves — faster responses, lower energy use, and smarter performance across everything from wearables to industrial systems,” said David Harold, senior analyst at Jon Peddie Research, in a press release.

With Pulsar, Innateria aims to give product teams a shortcut to smarter features that were previously off-limits due to size, power, or complexity. Filtering and interpreting sensor data locally keeps the main application processor asleep until truly needed, in some cases, eliminating the need for a main application processor or cloud computing, extending battery life by orders of magnitude. With sub-milliwatt power consumption, Pulsar makes always-on intelligence viable, enabling everything from sub-millisecond gesture recognition in wearables to energy-efficient object detection in smart home systems. For example, it can achieve real-time responsiveness with power budgets as low as 600 µW for radar-based presence detection and 400 µW for audio scene classification.

Innatera also aims to transform traditional sensors into self-contained intelligent systems. With its small memory footprint and efficient neural models, it fits into tight form factors while eliminating the need for heavy external compute and reducing reliance on complex, custom DSP pipelines. The idea is that sensor manufacturers can deliver plug-and-play smart sensor modules that accelerate development and time to market.

Using the company’s Talamo SDK, developers can build spiking models from scratch in a PyTorch-based environment and simulate, optimize, and deploy. Innatera is also launching a developer program, now open to early adopters, to provide a foundation for a growing community that accelerates innovation, shares knowledge, and empowers members to build the next generation of intelligent edge applications together. An upcoming open-source PyTorch frontend and marketplace will create an even more collaborative ecosystem for neuromorphic AI.

For more information, visit innatera.com/pulsar.

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Manufacturing organizations must ensure that data flows from one software to another as they rely on solutions from multiple vendors for digitalizing their manufacturing processes. While functional, the typical file-based data exchanges used within the dimensional management process between engineering, manufacturing, and quality present major data-flow issues, including having multiple copies of the same dimensional inspection information in multiple locations. The PolyWorks digital thread enables partners to digitally interconnect their software solutions to the PolyWorks universal metrology software platform and centralized data management server. It also allows automating the data flows that deliver dimensional inspection inputs to quality and leverage digital twin instances as well as 3D measurement data outputs enterprise-wide.

“Our existing PolyWorks connectors cover a wide array of applications and processes, and we plan to add more connectors in the future. However, the use of 3D measurement data is expanding, and the number of applications that could benefit from it is rising as well. So, we think that the task is too big to solely rest on our shoulders. This is why we have decided to partner with software companies to allow them to develop and commercialize digital connectors that exchange 3D measurement information between PolyWorks and their own solutions,” said Marc Soucy, president of InnovMetric. “It was natural for us to take this decision, as we had already determined that PolyWorks would be an open solution.”

InnovMetric is onboarding and collaborating with its first digital thread business partners: High QA, AutoForm, and Duwe-3d.

High QA

High QA provides integrated manufacturing quality management software solutions for any size company in all major manufacturing industries. Its software optimizes and automates the entire quality assurance process through automated data extraction and contextualization, creating a clear, traceable, and consistent bill of characteristics (BoC).

Its first PolyWorks digital thread connector is built into their HQA Connect software, which allows quality assurance and manufacturing specialists to automatically balloon 2D drawings using optical character recognition (OCR). This connector enables metrologists to automatically synchronize dimensional requirements from these ballooned drawings to PolyWorks Inspector. With seamless digital integration, inspection projects can be created in record time, eliminating drawing interpretation errors while maintaining complete data integrity.

High QA plans to further extend the interconnection between HQA Connect and PolyWorks by streaming inspection results from the PolyWorks DataLoop centralized 3D measurement server to automatically populate quality assurance reports, such as FAIs and PPAPs, within their 360 Core reporting and analysis software solution.

AutoForm

AutoForm provides software solutions for stamping and body-in-white (BiW) assembly process. They allow defining the optimal scenario during the process engineering stage to avoid costly and time-consuming quality loops at the prototype and production phases.

The PolyWorks digital thread partnership with AutoForm empowers automotive manufacturers to perform virtual dimensional inspections in PolyWorks Inspector based on simulation models generated by AutoForm Forming and AutoForm Assembly at the process engineering phase. Inspection data and measurement results are made accessible to quality and engineering teams in real-time using the PolyWorks DataLoop centralized 3D measurement server.

This new digital twin and 3D measurement-based process significantly reduces the number of tooling and assembly process iterations. It also allows process engineers and quality experts to detect dimensional issues 12 to 18 months before any tooling and part production. Engineering teams can leverage more detailed deviation analyses between simulated models and nominal dimensions to further improve simulation efficiency.

Duwe-3d

Duwe-3d has been a business partner of InnovMetric for 25 years. As the exclusive PolyWorks Master distributor for Germany, Austria, and Switzerland, Duwe-3d provides customers with bespoke PolyWorks software extensions that meet specific requirements and applications.

Extending the business relationship to the PolyWorks digital thread partnership was sparked by the development of an experimental virtual clamping plug-in for PolyWorks Inspector, designed to streamline the inspection process of stamped parts. By applying virtual clamping forces through simulation software, this plug-in allows deforming the 3D scanned model of an unconstrained sheet metal piece as if the piece were physically clamped. This tool eliminates the need to build checking fixtures for individual sheet metal parts, accelerating inspections and reducing tooling costs.

While it is still in the beta testing stage, the virtual clamping plug-in is set to be commercially available later this year.

For more information on the PolyWorks digital thread partnership program, visit innovmetric.com.

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The program includes live demonstrations of VI-grade’s hardware and software platforms, including dynamic driving simulators, such as the DiM250, and HiL systems, such as AutoHawk. Engineers will also be able to interact with real-time simulation tools for vehicle dynamics (VI-CarRealTime), ADAS development (VI-WorldSim), and NVH analysis (VI-NVHSim). Other stations will show how human-machine interface (HMI) concepts are evaluated in virtual environments.

Engineers from companies such as Honda Motors, Hitachi Astemo, Mcity, and Multimatic will present a range of technical sessions and case studies. These will cover applications of simulation in vehicle design, system integration, and validation.

One portion of the event is dedicated to NVH simulation. In the afternoon, VI-grade will host a focused NVH user group session featuring updates to VI-NVHSim (releases 2025.1 SP1 and 2025.2), and discussion topics including sound design, CAE-test correlation, and electric vehicle sound simulation. The session will conclude with an open Q&A for users to provide feedback and discuss future development needs.

Zero Prototypes Day is intended for engineers working in ride and handling, ADAS, NVH, and HMI development, offering a practical look at how simulation tools integrate into modern automotive workflows.

The North American event piggybacks off of VI-grade’s 2025 Zero Prototypes Summit, held May 13 to 15 at its SimCenter in Udine, Italy. The global event attracted over 1,500 participants, with approximately 300 attending on-site and more than 1,200 tuning in via livestream. The event drew representatives from 24 OEMs, 17 Tier 1 suppliers, and six academic and research institutions, supported by 27 industry sponsors.

Across three days, attendees accessed nearly 1,000 hands-on demo sessions spanning VI-grade’s software suite, dynamic simulators, and HiL systems. Key technical sessions and customer case studies covered applications in vehicle dynamics, ADAS, NVH, and HMI development. Notable contributor brands included Alpine, Hyundai METC, Aston Martin Lagonda, Ferrari, Ford Werke, Honda R&D, Multimatic, Porsche Engineering, Stellantis, Volvo, and others.

Two major product launches were introduced at the Summit:

• HexaRev: a 6‑DOF motion platform designed to deliver smoother, quieter, and more precise driver-in‑the‑loop simulation through a new mechanical design that eliminates belts, gears, and ball-screws.
• VI‑DataDrive Cloud: a cloud-based simulation and data analytics platform aimed at reducing high-fidelity model run times and enabling scalable, collaborative workflows via AI-enhanced digital twins.

Senior management from VI-grade noted that the event demonstrated a strong and growing industry commitment to simulation-first vehicle development. The Summit’s regional scope is expanding, with a North American Zero Prototypes Day scheduled for June 12 in Michigan and a planned Japanese edition in Tokyo on September 12.

See you in Novi

Engineering.com is attending the 2025 North American Zero Prototypes Day at SimCenter Detroit in Novi, Michigan. Follow Editor-in-Chief Rachael Pasini on LinkedIn for live coverage and stay tuned for a full report on the latest technology. Live or work nearby? Registration is still open and free of charge.

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HexaRev represents a new benchmark in simulation-led development and is a significant technological milestone in VI-grade’s Full Spectrum Simulator (FSS) product family, redefining the boundaries of motion realism and immersive simulation. With a new mechanical architecture and direct-drive design, HexaRev delivers higher fidelity, system responsiveness, and motion efficiency, making it the most advanced 6-degree-of-freedom (6-DoF) simulator ever developed by VI-grade.

This 6-DoF platform is designed to overcome the limitations of traditional hexapod-based motion systems. While conventional designs have restricted motion envelopes during multi-axis input, HexaRev introduces a new mechanical and kinematic concept that expands usable motion during complex, combined maneuvers. This enables development teams to evaluate vehicle behavior in highly dynamic scenarios, such as braking while cornering or acceleration through a chicane, with greater realism and accuracy.

Key highlights include:

• Approximately 50% improvement in motion envelope-to-footprint efficiency over traditional hexapods
• Direct drive architecture with no belts, gears, or ball screws, resulting in low latency and virtually zero mechanical noise or parasitic vibration
• Mechanical simplicity that increases reliability and minimizes maintenance

When combined with VI-grade’s Hyperdock, the HexaRev platform transforms into an FSS, capable of delivering synchronized motion, vibration, and sound for a complete sensory experience. The full HexaRev FSS configuration offers:

• Motion: Accurate, real-time 6-DoF vehicle movement
• Vibration: 7-DoF high-frequency tactile feedback at key driver touchpoints, replicating road texture, engine behavior, and chassis harmonics
• Sound: Immersive acoustic rendering delivered through cockpit speakers or headphones

These features are fully integrated with VI-grade’s proprietary VI-ZeroLatency technology, creating an ultra-responsive simulation environment that empowers drivers and engineers to experience digital prototypes with unparalleled realism.

HexaRev joins the VI-grade Full Spectrum Simulator family alongside the Compact FSS (launched in 2023) and DiM FSS (2024), forming a comprehensive portfolio of simulation solutions tailored to a wide range of applications. From vehicle dynamics and ride comfort to NVH, ADAS, and HMI evaluation, HexaRev is engineered to deliver the highest levels of immersion and precision for virtual vehicle development. Its debut at the 2025 Zero Prototypes Summit attracted top industry leaders, engineers, and simulation specialists, all eager to experience the next leap in DiL technology. 

To learn more, visit vi-grade.com/en/products/hexarev.

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“The world is evolving, and navigation must evolve with it. GPS is disturbingly vulnerable to challenging environments, harsh weather conditions and cyberattacks, with rising threats of jamming and spoofing. The question isn’t if GPS will fail, but when. Operators need to build resilience now,” said Chris Shaw, CEO and co-founder of Advanced Navigation.

Robust navigation demands a layered, inertial-first and multi-sensor architecture — held together by intelligent software — that can adapt and scale to meet the unique demands of each mission. Embracing a software-defined nature means updates and enhancements can be deployed with minimal hardware disruption. This paradigm shift ensures truly resilient navigation for critical applications across defense, aerospace, robotics and autonomous systems.

To achieve this, Advanced Navigation, headquartered in Sydney, Australia, integrated a strategic-grade fibre-optic gyroscope (FOG) inertial navigation system (INS) with a new class of navigation aid: a Laser Velocity Sensor (LVS). The result is a fused hybrid architecture that delivers unprecedented precision and reliability in even the most challenging environments.

LVS is a terrestrial adaptation of LUNA (Laser Unit for Navigation Aid), a space-grade navigation technology developed for autonomous lunar landings. LUNA enables reliable navigation in the harsh environment of space by providing precise three-dimensional velocity and altitude information relative to the Moon’s surface. After several years of research and development, LUNA is set to be demonstrated aboard Intuitive Machines’ Nova-C lander as part of NASA’s Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) program.

By leveraging the engineering insights gained from LUNA, LVS adapts space technology into an Earth-ready solution for terrestrial GNSS-denied navigation.

Why the LVS hybrid works

At the center of every reliable navigation platform is a trusted source of truth: the INS. The company’s FOG INS, which is sensitive enough to detect the Earth’s rotation, provides that foundation by delivering precise attitude, and the LVS uses infrared lasers to accurately measure a vehicle’s ground-relative 3D velocity. LVS performs reliably on ground and airborne platforms, as long as it maintains a clear line of sight to the ground or a stationary surface.

Beyond its role as a velocity aid, LVS also enhances navigation resilience by detecting GNSS spoofing. By comparing its independent velocity measurements against GNSS-derived velocity, LVS adds an extra layer of security to Assured Positioning, Navigation, and Timing (APNT) strategies.

AdNav OS Fusion draws on sophisticated algorithms to interpret and filter sensor data. The software is designed to dynamically weigh the input from each sensor, adjusting in real time based on reliability scores, environmental conditions and operational context. This ensures continuous, high-confidence state estimation even when signals are lost, degraded or distorted. This inertial-centered, multi-sensor approach delivers a step-change in GNSS-denied navigation performance, compared to traditional methods.

Testing LVS resilience with real-world data

To validate the accuracy and resilience of the LVS hybrid system, the company conducted a series of rigorous real-world driving tests. Across five trials, the system delivered exceptional performance with an average error per distance traveled of 0.053% compared to a GNSS reference. 

At the starting point, GNSS on the INS was disabled in the state estimation process, forcing the system into dead-reckoning mode. RTK GNSS was logged separately as a reference. This approach allows for a direct comparison between the computed dead-reckoning solution and a trusted position reference.

The data below shows dead-reckoning results from a 23-km drive around Canberra, Australia. GNSS was not used at any point in the drive for heading or position. RTK GNSS is shown as the red line, while the LVS hybrid system’s result is shown in blue.

The next results are from a 19.2-km drive around the Parliamentary Triangle in Canberra, Australia. Again, GNSS was not used at any point in the drive for heading or position. RTK GNSS is shown as the red line, while the hybrid system’s result is shown in blue.

The figure below is a zoomed section from the first test drive, showing GNSS (red) drop out as the test vehicle drove through a tunnel, which completely denied the GNSS reference measurement. The hybrid system’s result can be seen in blue, showing it did not suffer from this error.

These drives were done repeatedly, demonstrating consistent and reliable results each time. 

The LVS hybrid system was also tested on a fixed-wing aircraft combined with a tactical-grade INS, demonstrating a final error per distance traveled of 0.045% over the course of a low-altitude flight over 545 km. These results demonstrate the system’s impressive ability to improve navigation performance of the INS in GNSS-denied or contested scenarios.

To read the company’s white paper for a more in-depth look into the technology, visit advancednavigation.com/tech-articles/laser-velocity-sensor-lvs-high-accuracy-velocity-aid-gnss-denied-navigation.

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The latest report reveals that firms achieved record profitability, reaching their highest operating profit margins in a decade, even as economic pressures and labor costs persisted. A stronger financial footing enabled A&E leaders to focus on operational discipline, strategic technology investments and ongoing workforce development. As AI adoption and digital transformation continue to accelerate, firms are sharpening their focus on efficiency, resilience and long-term growth.

“Firms are cautiously optimistic with strong profitability numbers while facing ongoing labor pressures and economic challenges. We’re seeing firms make more disciplined decisions — being more strategic in their project pursuits, investing in AI, and focusing on operational excellence to drive lasting results,” said Megan Miller, director of product marketing at Deltek. “It’s promising to see the industry’s progress in digital transformation, as more firms are adopting new technologies and maximizing their current tech investment to create a more automated and integrated tech stack. As firms look ahead, continued investment in upskilling teams, increasing visibility into their projects, and leveraging the full value of their technology stack will be essential for their sustained growth and resilience.”

Here are some key findings from the 46th Annual Deltek Clarity A&E Study:

• A&E firms sustained historic profitability despite ongoing economic and labor cost pressures.
  • Operating profit on net revenue reached a 10-year high of 21.4%, with net revenue per employee rising 11% year-over-year.
  • Firms are forecasting net revenue growth of 9.6% for 2025, signaling continued optimism in most areas, with some firms expecting a decline.
• AI adoption surged across the industry, with 53% of firms leveraging AI tools — up from 38% last year.
  • Use cases include proposal development, project planning, business development and data analytics.
  • However, a gap remains between intent and full integration, as many firms are still heavily reliant on manual processes for core functions like accounting and resource management.
  • Digital maturity is among firms’ top tech priorities, with 38% now rating themselves as digitally mature or advanced, and 74% expecting to reach that stage within three years.
• Business development strategies have shifted from volume to value.
  • Proposal volume dropped 38%, but the value of awarded work grew by 52% year-over-year, and the median win rate increased to 50%.
  • Firms are being more disciplined, focusing on opportunities that best fit their expertise and strategic goals.
  • “Fit for the type of work” overtook existing relationships as the top factor influencing pursuit decisions, reflecting a more deliberate, ROI-driven approach to new business.
• Talent remains a critical challenge.
  • While year-over-year headcount growth has slowed, the competition for high-value talent remains fierce: 59% of survey respondents cite the availability of qualified candidates as their top talent acquisition challenge.
  • Rather than relying solely on recruitment, firms are investing in upskilling, technical training and career path development.
  • Reductions in force were also prevalent, which could be the result of high M&A activity, strategic workforce planning, or a slowdown in some markets.

“This year’s Clarity study shows that workforce strategy has become mission-critical for A&E firms,” said Jason Dorsey, trends advisor and workforce expert at Deltek. “As generational change continues to reshape the talent pool, leaders must be intentional, creating opportunities for engagement, fostering career growth, and understanding the unique perspectives different generations bring to the table. Firms that take a proactive approach to developing their people and adapting to these ongoing shifts will be best positioned to drive innovation and achieve long-term success.”

The full report is now available to download here: https://www.deltek.com/en/architecture-and-engineering/clarity

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Developed with HBK’s Digital Solution Group, VI-DataDrive Cloud addresses the limitations of local simulation. By leveraging scalable cloud infrastructure, it runs multiple VI-CarRealTime instances in parallel, accelerating Max Performance simulations, DOEs, and model diagnostics. This makes it possible to execute studies that would otherwise be time-prohibitive, particularly for advanced vehicle dynamics development and system-level investigations.

“Our customers are increasingly faced with the need to evaluate complex scenarios across many conditions, quickly and accurately,” said Roberto De Vecchi, head of product development at VI-grade, in a press release. “VI-DataDrive Cloud delivers a step change in simulation capability by eliminating bottlenecks in model execution and enabling seamless team collaboration through centralized data access and customizable result visualization. This is the first building block of a broader cloud-based and AI-driven vision we’re bringing to life with VI-DataDrive.”

In addition to scalable simulation execution, VI-DataDrive Cloud features a customizable post-processing environment. Results can be visualized online, downloaded for local analysis, and easily shared across engineering teams. Hierarchical user and team management allows for secure and efficient collaboration across organizations.

Engineers can now increase the scope of Investigation Mode DOEs, analyze Max Performance events on longer tracks, and integrate simulation into Continuous Integration (CI) workflows using Diagnostic Mode. The system also supports models with full plugin, FMU, and actuator extensions, ensuring broad applicability in real-world development environments.

The solution will be demoed for the first time at the upcoming 2025 Zero Prototypes Summit event taking place in Udine, Italy, and featured in a dedicated presentation by the first customer using it.

To learn more, visit vi-grade.com/en/products/vi-datadrive_cloud.

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