Engineering Compilation: Crash Course Kids

Key Concepts

• Engineering: Designing and building things (machines, systems, structures) to solve specific problems.
• Engineering Process: A series of steps engineers follow to solve problems: Define the problem, Research, Develop a solution, Build a prototype, Test, Evaluate.
• Problem Definition: Identifying the specific problem to be solved by asking questions and narrowing down the scope.
• Solution Criteria: Defining what a successful solution looks like by creating a checklist of requirements.
• Variables: Conditions or values that can be changed during testing.
• Controlled Variables: Variables that engineers can change.
• Uncontrolled Variables: Variables that engineers cannot change.
• Outcome: The result of changing variables in a solution.
• Prototype: A simple model used to test a design.
• Failure Point: A point where the design does not work as intended.
• Architecture: Designing buildings, a specific type of engineering.

What is Engineering?

Engineers are people who want to know how and why things work. They design and build machines, systems, or structures to solve specific problems. There are many types of engineers, including civil, mechanical, electrical, chemical, computer, nuclear, and software engineers. Each type specializes in solving certain kinds of problems.

• Civil Engineers: Design and construct buildings, roads, and bridges (e.g., the Golden Gate Bridge).
• Electrical Engineers: Study electricity and design electrical systems like circuits and computer chips (e.g., microwaves).
• Mechanical Engineers: Work in the manufacturing industry making mechanical things like tools, engines, and machines (e.g., Henry Ford and the Model T car).
• Software Engineers: Work on computers and other products that use software to write programs to make them faster and able to do more things (e.g., Marissa Mayer).

The Engineering Process: A Step-by-Step Guide

The engineering process is a series of steps that engineers follow when trying to solve a problem.

1. Define the Problem: Identify the specific problem that needs to be solved. For example, Alexander Graham Bell identified the problem of expensive and time-consuming communication over long distances, leading to the invention of the telephone.
2. Research: Gather information about the problem and existing solutions. Alfred Nobel researched existing explosives before inventing dynamite to create a safer alternative for miners.
3. Develop a Solution: Determine how to solve the problem based on research.
4. Design a Solution: Create a detailed plan of how the solution will work and what it will look like. Civil engineers sketch out their ideas for buildings and bridges. Gustavel designed the Eiffel Tower in France.
5. Build a Prototype: Create a simple model to test the design.
6. Test: Test the prototype to see if it works as intended. This step is crucial for identifying flaws and areas for improvement.
7. Evaluate: Analyze the results of the testing and determine whether the solution is working. Ask questions like: What worked well? Why did it work? Why didn't it work? How could it be made better? This step often leads back to earlier steps in the process. Willis Carrier tested his prototypes for years before perfecting the modern air conditioner.

Defining the Problem: Asking the Right Questions

Defining the problem is the first and most important step in the engineering process. It involves asking a lot of questions to identify the problem as specifically as possible and ensure that it can be solved.

Example: Crossing a canyon.

• Initial problem: "I need to get to the other side of the canyon."
• Questions to refine the problem:
  • Is there a bridge? (No)
  • Can I climb down and up? (Too deep, river at the bottom)
  • Can I swim across? (No)
• Solvable problem: "How can I fly across this very big canyon?"

Defining Success: Identifying Solution Criteria

Defining success involves identifying the criteria that a solution must meet to be considered successful. This is like creating a checklist of requirements.

Example: Flying across the canyon.

• Criteria:
  1. Get to the other side alive.
  2. Use something I currently have or can easily access.
  3. Be reusable once I'm on the other side.
• Possible solutions:
  • Superman (doesn't meet criteria 2)
  • Hang glider made from a tent (meets all criteria)

Variables: Identifying What Can Change

A variable is a condition or value that can be changed. Some variables are controlled (engineers can change them), while others are uncontrolled (engineers cannot change them).

Example: Crossing the gorge with a hang glider.

• Controlled variables:
  • Weight of the hang glider
  • Design of the hang glider
• Uncontrolled variables:
  • Wind speed
  • Gravity

By identifying variables, engineers can ask "what if" questions to help them decide if their solution will work.

Outcomes: How Variables Affect Results

The way something turns out, like whether a solution solves the problem or not, is called an outcome. Engineers only change one variable at a time when they test the solution so they're sure of the connection between the variable and the outcome.

Example: Launching Catbot with a slingshot.

• Variables:
  • Angle of the launch
  • How far to pull back on the slingshot
• Outcomes:
  • Knock over all the marshmallows
  • Knock over some of the marshmallows
  • Miss the pile completely

Real-World Engineering Challenges

• Retrieving a phone from a storm drain: This challenge involves designing a robot that can fly, be remote-controlled, have a camera, and a suction cup. Variables include the depth of the drain, the size and weight of the phone, and the strength of the robot's propellers.
• Creating a private space: This challenge involves designing a treehouse that provides seclusion and privacy. Variables include the size and weight of the treehouse, the number and size of blankets used for soundproofing, and the amount of noise made inside the treehouse.

Conclusion

Engineering is a problem-solving process that involves defining the problem, researching, developing a solution, building a prototype, testing, and evaluating. By identifying solution criteria and variables, engineers can design and build successful solutions to a wide range of problems. The engineering process is iterative, meaning that engineers often go back and forth between steps as they learn more about the problem and refine their solutions.