CHAPTERS 2&3 Engineering Majors 1 ELEC 104, Fall 2010 Dr. McKinney

Engineers and Scientists Scientists seek technical answers to understand natural phenomenon Engineers study technical problems with a practical application always in mind For example ◦ “Scientists study atomic structure to understand the nature of matter; engineers study atomic structure to make smaller and faster microchips” 2

The Engineer and the Engineering Technologist Main difference between the two is: ◦ Engineers design and manufacture machines and systems, while engineering technologists have the technical know-how to use and install the machines properly An example: ◦ “The technologist identifies the equipment necessary to assemble a new CD player; the engineer designs said CD player” 3

What do Engineers do? Three variables ◦ Discipline/Major ◦ Position/Function ◦ Industry

Engineering Functions Design, Development, Research, Test, Analysis, Production, Sales, Technical Support Get into eight groups Develop 2 bullet points describing the engineering function you have been assigned

Design Engineer Largest number of engineers employed Responsible for shape and specifications of components Safety, reliability and integrity of the components Requires coordination with all other engineers

Development Engineer Take the knowledge from researchers and apply it to a specific application Incorporate findings into prototypes to test feasibility for use in the next generation of products.

Research Engineer Perform investigations with experiments and computers. Work in a university or National Lab environment. Typically requires a PhD.

Test Engineer Verify the integrity and reliability of products before introduction to the public Simulate conditions that a product will be subjected to in typical use throughout its life

Analysis Engineer Uses mathematical models and computational tools to provide information to design, development, and research engineers Typically specialists in a technology area important to production such as heat transfer, fluid flow, vibrations, etc…

Production Engineer Turn designs into large scale production as efficiently as possible Responsible for maintenance of machines and the inventory and supplies

Sales Engineer Trained to identify which products are right for the customer Technical background to understand the customer’s needs and to answer questions and concerns

Technical Support Engineer Specify installations and set-ups of products Trained to troubleshoot and fix technical problems

Engineering Majors Biomedical, Electrical, Computer, Chemical, Civil & Environmental, Materials, Aerospace, Mechanical Rearrange into eight different groups Develop 2 bullet points describing the engineering major you have been assigned

Biomedical Application of engineering principles to biological systems to meet the needs of the medical community Work with genetics to produce bioengineered products

Electrical Design and develop electronic circuits Work in biomedical field developing non- intrusive diagnostic techniques Work with transmission and distribution of power

Computer Focused on design of computer hardware and software as well as personal and commercial security Develop and design electronics to interface with computers Similar to computer scientists but focus more on the hardware

Chemical Take what chemists do in the lab and apply the fundamental engineering, physics, and chemical principles to it

Civil & Environmental Concerned with form and function, appearance and integrity of buildings and other structures Environmental engineers focus on waste management and cleaning of contaminated sites and to reduce or eliminate harmful waste

Materials Develop new materials to meet the needs of society as well as the processes that create them Work to ensure that a material meets the performance needs of its intended application by designing testing procedures to ensure requirements are met

Aerospace Involved in flights within and also outside of the Earth’s atmosphere Separated into categories of: ◦ Aerodynamics ◦ Propulsion ◦ Structures ◦ Controls ◦ Orbital Mechanics ◦ Life Sciences

Mechanical Concerned with machines and mechanical devices Involved in design and development, production, control, operation of these devices Areas include: design and controls and thermal sciences Develop computational tools to aid the design process

Homework (due in one week) Pick three blocks in the cube (Figure 2-1) and write a job description for that engineer. None of your blocks can have any similar variables.

Profiles in Engineering Combine groups into four groups Each group take one of the specified profiled engineers Study the bio in the text Present this person to the group ◦ What do they do? ◦ Where do they fit into the “cube”? ◦ Do they seem to enjoy engineering? ◦ Does their life seem to be in balance?

Raymond C. Barrera Raymond C. Barrera

Bob Feldmann

Steven E. Fredrickson

Mark Allen Pashan

Homework (due in one week) Imagine yourself 10 years from now and type up a one page profile in the same format given in the book.