Engineering Achievements, Challenges, and Key Concepts

Ten Engineering Achievements:

• Telephone
• Computers
• AC and refrigeration
• Electronics
• Airplane
• Automobile
• Highways
• Spacecraft
• Internet
• Household appliances
• Imaging
• Radio and TV

Ten of Fourteen Challenges:

• Provide clean access to water
• Enhance VR
• Prevent nuclear terror
• Improve urban infrastructure
• Make solar energy economical
• Secure cyberspace
• Producing energy from fusion
• Manage the nitrogen cycle
• Engineer better medicine
• Advance health informatics

12 Steps:

1. Recognition of need
2. Problem identification and specification
3. Information gathering
4. Incubation and ideation
5. Development of concepts
6. Synthesis
7. Analysis
8. Prototyping and testing
9. Manufacturing
10. Marketing
11. Maintenance
12. Afterlife

Fundamental Differences Between Engine Lathe and Vertical Mill:

Lathe - the workpiece rotates but remains stationary, while the tool moves in 2-D
Vertical mill - the workpiece moves in 3-D, while the tool rotates but remains stationary

Keyway in Mechanical Drive System:

A keyway is an axially groove on the outside of an inner shaft and/or an axially groove on the inside of a sleeve that fits around an inner shaft. A weak material (the key) is inserted into the space formed when the internal and external keyways match up. The purpose of the key/keyway system is to fail when/if the shaft is over-torqued, thus preserving the shaft, analogous to a fuse in an electrical circuit.

Trade Secret:

A formula, pattern, device or compilation of information used in one's business which allows an advantage over competitors.
Advantages: No time limit, property remains secret, legal protection.
Disadvantages: belongs only if kept secret

Copyright:

Protection for originator of artistic and literary works against unauthorized reproduction, distribution or performance of works.
Advantages: Renewable, long lasting legal protection.
Disadvantages: Finite time limit, protects only expression not idea/concept

Trademark:

Any word, name, symbol or device or any combination thereof, adopted and used by a manufacturer or merchant to identify and distinguish his goods.
Advantages: Opportunity to renew every 5 years for unlimited time.
Disadvantages: Can be lost if owner can't demonstrate reasonable effort were made to prevent use from others

Patent:

Government grant of a right to exclude others from making, using, or selling an invention for a limited period of time.
Advantages: Grant of legal monopoly, 20 years from filing date.
Disadvantages: filing date vs issued date.