History of Computer-Aided Design (CAD)

Study Notes

Brief History of Computer Drafting and Design

Computer-aided design (CAD) has evolved significantly, with various key players and milestones throughout history.
1861: Alphonse-Louis Poitevin invented blueprints using iron ferro-gallate and light, enabling copes of architectural drawings, reducing information loss and errors during team collaboration.

Key CAD Milestones

1957: Dr. Patrick J. Hanratty (Father of CAD) created PRONTO, the first commercial numerical-control programming system, sparking the CAD revolution.
1963: Ivan Sutherland developed Sketchpad, one of the first design systems with a graphic user interface enabling light pen interaction on a CRT. It introduced the concept of "objects" and "instances" in drawings.
1963: Dr. Patrick J. Hanratty, General Motors, and IBM created DAC (Design Automated by Computer), an early graphic CAD system, which led to the term computer-aided design.
1966: McDonnell-Douglas introduced CADD (Computer-Aided Design & Drafting) internal CAD systems for parts layouts and geometry work.
1967: Ford created PDGS (Product Design Graphics System) as an internal CAD system.
1967: Itek released Digigraphics, one of the first commercial CAD systems, costing $500,000.
1969: Philippe Villers and Martin Allen created Computervision, selling one of the first commercial CAD systems to Xerox.
1971: Dr. Patrick J. Hanratty developed ADAM (Automated Drafting and Machinery), an interactive graphic system written in Fortran, which ran on mainframe computers. This system influenced up to 90% of the current commercial drafting programs.
1972: MAGI developed Synthavision, the first 3D solid modeling system utilizing ray-tracing for rendering images.
1973: United Computing created Unigraphics, a high-end, easy-to-use 2D modeling and drafting software, setting a new standard for CAD software.
1975: Dr. Ken Versprille introduced NURBS (Non-Uniform Rational B-Splines) to CAD, enhancing surface definition within CAD systems, widely used in engineering today.
1977: Charles Eastman developed GLIDE (Graphical Language for Interactive Design), featuring many BIM (Building Information Modeling) design features.
1977-1981: Dassault Systèmes developed CATIA, a platform-independent CAD software introducing 3D modeling for engineers.
1980: The National Bureau of Standards (now the National Institute of Standards and Technology) created IGES (Initial Graphics Exchange Specification), a neutral format enabling CAD design transfer between different systems. This format is now outdated, but still used where needed.
1981: SDRC developed GEOMOD, their geometric modeling product utilizing NURBS.
1982: John Walker founded Autodesk, releasing AutoCAD, the first CAD software for PCs.
1984: Gábor Bojár created Radar CH (later ArchiCAD), the first BIM software for personal computers.
1985: Richard Diehl/Diehl Graphsoft developed MiniCAD, popular CAD software for Mac computers.
1997: Charles River Software developed Autodesk Revit, building information modeling software, and was later purchased by Autodesk.