From the course: Creative Problem Solving for Technologists

Engineering is problem solving

From the course: Creative Problem Solving for Technologists

Start my 1-month free trial Buy for my team

Engineering is problem solving

“

- [Instructor] Engineering is about problem solving. We want a bridge that spans that river, or we want to put a self-driving car on Mars. There are unique elements to each. Are the riverbanks clay or sand? Are there roads nearby? An approved budget? The engineer has to understand the constraints and their interplay. They have to make trade-offs between them. Putting a rover on Mars involves a whole lot of shaking force as it takes off, the heat and cold of deep space, the shock of landing, and then finally, operations. The rover has to be sturdy enough to withstand all of that, and it should be as light as possible so that we maximize carrying capacity for the science instruments and spend less energy lugging the frame around. Or, if you want a more down-to-earth example, engineering a new microwave oven might involve using different components, maybe less expensive ones. Or maybe units are failing under warranty, and so more expensive components would save money. It might be the components feel cheap, and new surfaces might help sell. What are the ongoing problems that you face? Would one or more of them benefit from more creativity? Engineering involves making trade-offs that deliver value in your projects.

Contents