While bio-fuel might produce an alternative to fossil fuels, the rising cost for resources used in bio-fuels creates a new dilemma. Many poorer countries spend much of their income feeding their population and rising food costs create new shortages in the wake of more expensive foodstuffs. On the other hand, other poor countries with strong agricultural bases benefit by a lack of competition in the international market and higher profits for their crops. Read the rest of this entry »

During the 20th century, the automobile became our chief mode of transportation. Now, in the 21st century, automobiles are sophisticated and constantly evolving machines.

Automotive engineering is the broad field of study that makes this technology and innovation possible. The core components of automotive engineering include design and performance, drivetrain engineering, engine combustion, engine tribology, mechanical engineering and vehicle dynamics. Read the rest of this entry »

Aerodynamics is the study of the interaction between air and moving objects. It is vital to understanding how planes and rockets fly but is also used to understand everything from how kites can stay aloft to how a baseball pitch can curve. Aerodynamics is also studied in relation to objects moving along the ground such as cars or runners. Aerodynamics can also be used to study wind loads in the design of structures and to study the internal passage of air through ventilation systems and gas piping. Read the rest of this entry »

The U S Army’s Future Combat Systems (FCS) is the research division for combat uses for robots. News reports cover robots already deployed in Iraq and Afghanistan as unmanned aerial vehicles. The FCS has ground robots on the battlefields now.

The most portable robot is the Small Unmanned Ground Vehicle (SUGV). It was developed by Boeing and iRobot as a surveillance robot. It uses treads for locomotion and weighs less than 30 pounds. Any soldier can carry the SUGV and its remote controls in one backpack. It can be fitted with cameras, laser range finders and chemical detection systems. Its ability to travel in confided spaces such as tunnels and pipes allows the SUGV to go places the smallest of soldiers could not enter. The SUGV’s tread locomotion system also allows it to climb stairs. The Army uses it for urban warfare operations. Several US public safety organizations use them as well.

SUGVs protect soldiers and first responders from harm by gathering situation awareness without exposing people to the dangers of combat front lines or public safety operations such as fires, hostage situations and hazardous materials accidents.

The design engineering process is a guide of what steps can be taken to give the
Engineer degree of direction for troubleshooting. The designers used
a large number of combinations of steps and procedures of design, but you can not
say there is a clear winner. The follow strict rules of design ensures no
success of the project and may even inhibit the designer to the point of restricting free
imagination. Despite this , it is believed that the design process is an effective means
provide organized and useful results . Read the rest of this entry »