Introduction to Engineering GET 101 2024

Study Notes

The word "engineer" originates from Latin words meaning "to create, generate, contrive, devise" and "cleverness."
Engineering dates back to ancient times, including inventions like the wheel, wedge, lever, and pulley.
Engineering history is divided into three periods: Ancient Era, Middle Ages, and Modern Era.

Six classic simple machines were developed: the wedge (prehistoric), inclined plane (ramp - prehistoric), wheel and axle (5th millennium BC, Mesopotamia), lever (5000 years ago, initially for balance scales then used to move objects in Egypt), pulley (early 2nd millennium BC, Ancient Egypt), and screw (911-609 BC, Mesopotamia).
The Egyptian pyramids were built using three of these simple machines (inclined plane, wedge, lever) to create large structures.

Wind-powered machines like windmills and wind pumps first appeared in the Islamic world (9th century AD).
The cotton gin was invented in India (6th century AD).
Spinning wheels were invented in the Islamic world (early 11th century).
Programmable machines were developed in the Muslim world.

Classical mechanics (Newtonian mechanics) formed the scientific basis for modern engineering.
Canal building was important during the early Industrial Revolution.
John Smeaton is considered the "father of civil engineering."
He designed bridges, canals, harbors, and lighthouses.
The Industrial Revolution increased demand for machinery with metal parts, leading to the development of machine tools (boring machine, screw cutting lathe, milling machine, turret lathe, and metal planer).
Precision machining techniques developed in the 19th century, leading to large-scale factory production.
Electrical engineering emerged from experiments by Alessandro Volta, Michael Faraday, Georg Ohm, and others; the electric telegraph (1816) and electric motor (1872) were invented.
James Maxwell and Heinrich Hertz's work in the late 19th century led to the rise of electronics.
Later, vacuum tubes and transistors furthered the development of electronics.
Chemical engineering developed in the late 19th century.
Industrial-scale manufacturing demanded new materials and processes (1880s), leading to large-scale manufacturing of chemicals in new industrial plants.
Aeronautical engineering deals with aircraft design; aerospace engineering also focuses on spacecraft design. Development in aeronautical engineering was extensive after Wright brothers' successful flights; military aircraft development for WWI played a significant role.

The Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET) defines engineering as the profession where knowledge of math and natural sciences, gained through study, experience, and practice, is applied with judgment to economically utilize the materials and forces of nature for mankind's benefit.
Engineering is the creative application of scientific principles and mathematics. This applies to the design of structures, machines, apparatus, and manufacturing processes.

Engineers approach problems using the "design process."
1. Define the problem.
2. Research previous work, lots of deep thinking
3. Establish Criteria (specifications) for the design.
4. Design possible solutions.
5. May use scientific method, or computer simulations to evaluate the design options.
6. Optimization and refinement of the design.
7. Prototype and test the design.
8. Communicate with target users (customer feedback).

A cyclical process that includes: identify the problem, research, brainstorm solutions, select a solution, create design, test, redesign and present.

Technological innovations are the creation/application of new technologies, tools, systems, and processes, that significantly advance various fields.
Many innovations have dramatically changed human society (printing press, electricity, penicillin etc). They are listed by type and date.