Engineering Disciplines: What do engineers do?

1. Engineering Disciplines:  What do engineers do? Fall 2012 Lecture # XX

2. Engineers are constantly evolving • Some disciplines have become extinct because of society’s changing needs • As we progress through this new millennium it is inevitable that new engineering disciplines will develop and more will fall to the wayside

3. Let’s Look At UTD engineers • BE • CE • CS • EE • ME • SE • TE

5. BioengineeringThe application of engineering principles to biological systems • Encompasses many fields of study, including chemistry, physics, technology, and medicine • One of the newest and fastest growing disciplines • Applies the fundamentals of engineering to meet the needs of the medical community • Biomedical Engineers develop devices and procedures that solve medical and health-related problems. • Biomedical Engineers work with medical professionals to develop medical instruments, monitoring equipment, artificial organs, and prosthetic devices. • Examples of their work: • Genetically modifying a plant or animal to produce a disease-resistant strain • Developing the chemical process necessary to make an artificial kidney function

6. Laser Systems for Corrective eye surgery. Computers for Blood analysis Ultrasound Imaging Equipment Implantable Hip Joints

7. Bioengineers work at the intersection of engineering and the life sciences, developing new technologies that improve people’s health and well-being.

8. Computer EngineeringDesign and build computer-related hardware products for many applications, such as personal computers, cell phones, automobiles, and even washing machines • Apply the theories of science and mathematics to design hardware, software, networks, computer chips, and processors • Often work in teams • One of the fastest growing disciplines • Difference between computer science: • Computer scientists focus on software and its optimization • Computer engineers focus on computer hardware or the machine itself • Security is becoming a huge concern of computer engineers

9. Computer Engineering • Hardware and Chip Design • Development of Software Applications • Integrating components together, i.e. device driver software • Project Management – teams located in multiple places • Chip Fabrication • Test and Quality Assurance (QA)

10. Global Positioning Unit Open Source software Invites lots of developers to create new applications Using Languages such as JAVA.

12. Computer Scientist / Software Engineer • Someone who designs, builds, upgrades or maintain software • Focuses on developing software applicable to demanded tasks, test or debug software, or build large systems • Very important career in demand as new software needs to be constantly developed and upgraded • Goal is production of error free software to solve a particular problem

13. Software Engineering v.s. Computer Science • The computer scientist investigates several ways to produce software, some good and some bad. • But the software engineer is interested in only those techniques that make sound economicsense. For example: A coding technique that can execute very efficiently but with higher maintenance cost may not be a good choice, since maintenance occupies a lot of resources of the whole life cycle.

14. the practicalities of developing & delivering useful software within economic considerations • theory • fundamentals • “best” technical algorithm What is the difference between software engineering and computer science? Computer Science Software Engineering is concerned with Computer science theories are currently insufficient to act as a complete underpinning for software engineering, BUT it is a foundation for practical aspects of software engineering

15. Programming versus Software Engineering • Programming • 1. The process of translating a problem from its physical environment into a language that a computer can understand and obey. (Webster’s New World Dictionary of Computer Terms) • 2. The art of debugging a blank sheet of paper. • 3. A pastime similar to banging one's head against a wall, but with fewer opportunities for rewards. (2 and 3 from The New Hacker’s Dictionary) • Software Engineering • “The establishment and use of sound engineering principles in order to obtain economically software that is reliable and works efficiently on real machines.”

16. The Difference Between Computer Science and Software Engineering Computer Science Customer Algorithms & Data Structures Theory of Computation Programming Languages . . . Problem Software Engineering Tools and Techniques to Solve Problem

17. The Department of Computer Science offers bachelor of science degrees in computer science and in software engineering. Both programs of study are based on a solid foundation of mathematics, including calculus, linear algebra and discrete mathematics. These are designed to offer students opportunities to prepare for careers in a rapidly changing profession, whether they choose after graduation to enter industry, business or government. The computer science and software engineering programs have the same basis in core computer science, including modern programming methodologies, the analysis of algorithms and data structures, and the study of operating systems. The computer science program continues with courses in advanced data structures, programming languages and automata theory, whereas the software engineering program includes courses in requirements engineering, software validation and testing, and software architecture.

18. Electrical EngineeringResponsible for the design, development, testing, and supervision of the manufacturing of electrical equipment • Deals with the motion of electrons in metals • Work focused on: • large electrical systems • motors and generators • electrical circuits in buildings • power transmission systems • electrical generation plants • Concerned with making their designs efficient, long lasting, cost-effective, and safe • The discipline that employs the largest number of engineers, covers everything related to electrical devices, systems, and the use of electricity. • Electrical engineers work on power plants, computers, and other electrical devices.

19. Electrical Engineering • Play a role in almost everything we • interact with on a daily basis. They • design smaller, cheaper, and better: • cell phones • computers • power systems • appliances • robots Apply specialized skill to the design, manufacture, application, installation, and operation of electrical products and systems.

21. Mechanical EngineeringDesign, produce, operate, and service machines and mechanical devices • Second largest engineering discipline after electrical engineering • Mechanical engineers use mechanics and energy principles to design machines such as tools, engines, machines, motors, and other devices. • Many mechanical engineers work in the areas of air-conditioning and refrigeration, automotives, manufacturing, welding, robotics, and mechatronics. • They study materials, heat and energy transfer, manufacturing technologies

22. Mechanical Engineering • Concerned with design, manufacture & operation of a wide range of components, devices, or systems: • microscopic parts (nanotechnology) to gigantic gears • heating, ventilation, refrigeration • manufacturing equipment (tanks, motors, pumps) • laser technology • biomedical applications • automotive industry • computer-aided design, automation, robotics Broadest of all the engineering disciplines in its range of activities

23. A mechanical engineer designs anything that uses mechanical motion Robotics Computer Modeling Underwater Vehicle Consumer & Baby products Prototyping Food Handling

25. Telecommunication Engineering • Overview • Lies at the heart of most information exchange, including telephone communications, broadcasting and the Internet. • Blend of knowledge from electrical engineering and computer science, focusing on communications networks and systems. • Careers in Telecommunications Engineering • Telecommunications engineering is a dynamic and rapidly developing field as a result of today’s heavy reliance on the Internet, cellphones, broadband, wireless networks, broadcasting and satellite applications. Telecom engineers design, implement and manage systems for processing and transmitting information, finding career opportunities in such areas as: • Computer communications and networking • Mobile communications • Voice and data networks • TV and radio broadcasting • Optical networking • Remote sensing, measurement and control • Next-generation networks • Telecommunications engineers also find employment in broader areas such as electronic engineering, instrumentation engineering, computer engineering, systems analysis and control engineering.

27. One more discipline to consider… • FastTrack option • No Bachelor degree offered at UTD • Master in Systems Engineering

28. Systems engineering and management (SEM) is an interdisciplinary field that focuses on the engineering and management of complex projects. Dealing with issues such as automatic control of machinery, coordination of teams, work processes and tools to handle such projects, it overlaps with technical disciplines such as control engineering as well as human-centered disciplines such as project management.

29. The National Center for Education Statistics defines systems engineering as a “program that prepares individuals to apply mathematical and scientific principles to the design, development and operational evaluation of total systems solutions to a wide variety of engineering problems, including the integration of human, physical, energy, communications, management and information requirements as needed, and the application of requisite analytical methods to specific situations.” Systems engineering is concerned with the overall process of defining, developing, operating and maintaining quality systems. Whereas other engineering disciplines concentrate on the details of individual aspects of a system (such as electronics, mechanics, aerodynamics and software), systems engineering is concerned with the integration of all these aspects into a coherent and effective system. Systems engineers concentrate their efforts on the aspects of the engineering process (such as requirements definition, top-level functional designs, project management and life-cycle cost analysis) that serve to organize and coordinate other engineering activities.

30. Engineer Occupational Outlook • Expected to grow as fast as the average for all occupations over the next decade (about 11%) • Growth will vary by specialty • Technological advances will not to limit employment in engineering, like in other occupations, because engineers continue to develop new products and systems • Offshoring of engineering work will slow domestic employment growth because foreign engineers are willing to work for lower salaries • Engineers work on long-term research and development projects so they are less affected by economic slowdowns • Engineers must continue their education throughout their careers since much of their value depends on their knowledge of the latest technology

31. Class Discussion What can you learn about engineering disciplines from your dog or cat? … LOTS!!!!

32. Meet Fido (or Fluffy)

33. Fido & Fluffy • Fido is a good dog • But he likes to explore “off the leash” • Fluffy is a good cat • But he likes to explore the neighborhood • PROBLEM: What if they forget where they live?

34. Solution • Make them wear a collar with ID tag so humans can “help” them find their way back to your house

35. But • Fido has a rare skin disease and the collar irritates his skin • Fluffy is smart and has figured out how to get out of his collar • PROBLEM: What if they forget where they live and are not wearing their collar?

36. Solution • Have a tiny device inserted under the skin that can be scanned with a special scanner to get their personal information • CONSIDERATIONS: • How to get device under the skin? • What material is safe for under the skin? • How will the device be powered? • Will all the pet info be on the device? • If owner moves, how will the info be updated?

37. CLASS TASK • Brainstorm additional considerations

38. How it Basically Works • Information Database contains all info • Chip implanted under the skin by vet • Owner registers with information • Special scanner provides sufficient energy to read the implanted device

39. CLASS TASK • How do each of the 7 UTD engineering disciplines participate in the “Pet Finder” solution? • HINT: yes…all 7 participate in a unique way!!! • Assume the pet owner is an A&H major…not an Engineering major!

40. Homework #2 • For each of the 7 UTD Engineering UG disciplines • List 3 specific ways the engineering discipline would contribute to the overall solution of “Pet Finder” • Due one week from today (Hand in through eLearning)