February 2007, Issue #55
Automotive Engineering
Automotive engineers work on the most complicated and exciting consumer product manufactured. They integrate complex parts into a single system while meeting a plethora of standards—from safety to durability, environmental, and performance standards and tests—and dealing with an electrical interface to a mechanical interface to hydraulics to a combustion engine to thermal properties. To make maters more challenging, automotive engineers bring out new models every two to three years to give consumer the latest and greatest technology. What could be more complex? The space shuttle? Guess again! The technology and computer power of automobiles today outpaces NASA’s space shuttle.
Included in the list of engineering specialties needed to manufacture a car or other motor vehicle are:
- Mechanical engineers—to design component parts, testing strategies, and the tuning of the vehicle.
- Electrical engineers—to work on the audio system, computers, telematics (the integration of the phone, global positioning systems, and computers), and other electrical systems.
- Environmental engineers—to work to minimize the vehicle impact on the environment—using as much recycled material as possible, making parts that can be recycled and are non-toxic, and reducing emissions.
- Materials engineers—to design the materials specifications to ensure a durable and long-lasting product.
- Other engineers specialties—including safety engineers and those specializing in ergonomics (comfort, noise reduction, etc.).
The Right Stuff
Automotive engineers today take a systems approach and need a broad range of skills—including mechanical and electrical engineering, design engineering, and manufacturing engineering—to understand the whole product throughout the life of the vehicle including servicing and recycling. They also need good business skills to help increase value to the consumer while holding down costs.
If you’re interested in automotive engineering, the place to start is with a solid core in either mechanical or electrical engineering. Next, augment it with coursework or experience in other related-engineering areas. It’s also valuable to have experience in software development, prototyping, and working with the latest computer-based design tools.
College students also can gain experience though co-op assignments, engineering clubs, and student competitions. For example, the Society for Automotive Engineering holds an annual collegiate design series. More than 40 universities participate each year with teams of 20 to 30 students entering formula 1 race cars they designed and built.
Automakers—Investing Billions in Research Each Year
The latest developments in automobiles are backed by billions of dollars in research. Environmental impact (from emissions to fuel economy to recycling) and safety are two largest areas for research funding. The big three U.S. automakers spent $17.3 billion on research and development in 1996 alone. Other areas of research include:
- Vehicle dynamics
- Driveline technology
- Noise/Vibration/Harshness
- Emerging energy technologies (e.g., fuel cells)
- Internal combustion engines
- Emissions
- Hybrid vehicles
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- Fuel economy
- Safety
- Fasteners
- Materials
- Computer-aided engineering
- Controls
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Biomechanical engineers are also valuable in the automotive industry today. All the car companies are looking at impact of car crashes on the human body. In addition to understanding the dynamics of car and crumple zones, they are looking for new materials and technologies to keep people safer during crashes and reduce damage to their bodies.
Acknowledgements
Thanks to Alan Jacobson, Ford Motor Company, and David L. Amati, director of automotive global business for the Society of Automotive Engineers, for their contributions to this article.
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