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Time: 40 hours
Level: Intermediate
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 Introduction Resource- The optimistic approach to a problem is to view it as a challenge and an opportunity – a chance to make progress. In this unit, the nature of problems is explored by looking at the way they are used as...
| | | | | 1 Problems and innovation
- 1.1 Solving problems Resource
- It could be said that our species is defined by its irresistible urge to solve problems – it's what makes us human. Strange, then, that the word ‘problem’ has such negative overtones. I think that the...
- 1.2 Innovation by context Resource
- The word ‘innovate’ simply means ‘make new’. We have chosen in this unit to narrow the meaning of this term to be more or less synonymous with ‘invention’. I would argue that innovation by context is as...
- 1.3 Innovation by development Resource
- Innovation by development is about changing the bit that doesn't work, or that could work better, to improve the function of the whole for reasons of cost, performance, ease of manufacture or competitive...
- 1.4 Routine solutions Resource
- This is the last of our three categories, and possibly the most difficult to define because the approach is not as definite. Routine solutions involve configuration or reconfiguration of existing devices...
| | | | | 2 Where does the need arise?
- 2 Where does the need arise? Resource
- There is a rather obvious question that has to be raised at some point, so we may as well get it over with now: Why do we present ourselves with all these problems? After all, life would be easier without...
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- 3 Needs and problems Resource
- The last section has established that engineering is about satisfying needs. In fact, with so many needs, it's a wonder that not everyone is an engineer! So, now that we have talked about both needs and...
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- 4.1 Advancing knowledge Resource
- Over the centuries, engineers have faced and solved a huge number of problems of one sort or another. Each time a problem is solved, knowledge is advanced, something usually gets written down, and so today...
- 4.2 From a need to a problem Resource
- So, working from the top down, the process starts with ‘need’ and ‘problem’; see Figure 8.
- 4.3 Possible solutions Resource
- According to Figure 7, our map of the problem-solving process, once we've defined the problem according to the need the next step is the creative bit – to look for ‘possible solutions’, Figure 10.
- 4.4 Evaluate solutions Resource
- If the obvious solution has been identified and everyone is in agreement, then a formal evaluation of solutions is unnecessary, and we would move on to modelling the design. However, if there is dissent...
- 4.5 Model the best solution Resource
- In moving from the ‘possible solutions’ to the ‘best solution’ box, Figure 12, we have to assume that a certain amount of evaluation has been done in the previous loop. The solution is still on paper,...
- 4.6 Assess and review Resource
- Following our problem-solving map, we have reached the stage of ‘assess and review solution’, Figure 16.
- 4.7 Build prototype/demonstrator Resource
- The physical models we talked about earlier are prototypes or demonstrators of a sort. However, for the purposes of making a clear distinction in the process, I'm referring here to prototypes or demonstrators...
- 4.8 Assess and review again Resource
- If you've been following the stages of our problem-solving map, then the chances are you're ahead of me here (Figure 19). Yes, if it works, hurrah; if it doesn't then off we go again, all the way back...
- 4.9 Final implementation Resource
- The line you take here obviously depends on the problem you set out to solve. If you were creating a new product for retail or industry, then the final step of the process would be to put that product...
| | | | | 5 A problem in bicycle design
- 5.1 The development of the bicycle Resource
- Section 4 has looked at how we can follow a logical route or map, from the expression of a need, to arrive at possible solutions to a problem. In Sections 5 and 6 we look in more detail at two quite...
- 5.2 Material comparisons Resource
- I want to depart from the specific example of the bicycle to make some more general points.
- 5.3 Back to the bicycle Resource
- Let's assume that our bicycle frame could still be constructed from ties and struts. If we want to select the material to minimise the weight of a frame for a particular frame strength, we need to devise...
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- 6 A problem with sensors Resource
- The problem we will look at in this section concerns the analysis of the design of a component used in cars that are fitted with airbags. The airbag has to be inflated rapidly when an electronic circuit...
| | | | | 7 Responsible engineering
- 7.1 The engineer and society Resource
- Section 2 outlined some of the needs for engineering. Society relies on engineers to create solutions to the problems involved in meeting those needs.
- 7.2 The professional engineer Resource
- It has been suggested that there are four main criteria that identify a profession:
- 7.3 Ethics and safety Resource
- A practising engineer makes ethical decisions, with moral and physical implications of varying magnitudes, on a daily basis. Examples of ethical dilemmas are limitless, ranging from the engineer who takes...
- 7.4 The impact of technology on society Resource
- Engineering is apparently driven by the needs of society. The technology that results, in turn, drives other changes in our everyday lives. One of the basic needs identified in Section 2 was for shelter....
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- 8 Summary Resource
- We have seen how a solution falls into one of three categories (innovation by context, innovation by development, and routine solution) according to the need that drives it. Furthermore, the need is shown...
| | | | | References and Acknowledgements | | |
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