What makes engineering fun? To be sure, various engineers will consider different things to be enjoyable, which is clearly subjective and can’t be measured. For some, fun would be working on an interesting project, like a literally unique aircraft. For others, it would be working on something recreational, like a motorcycle or a surf park. However, for others, the pleasure would be in getting someone else to do the difficult part and then sitting back while waiting for the results. Regardless, the science needs to be right in all cases. Happy Reading.
The Digital Shift Fuels Outsourcing in Engineering and R&D
For innovative teams, the trend is to reduce risk by farming out whole projects rather than just supplementing staff. An emphasis on expertise rather than upfront cost is consistent with a recommendation to "coinvest with service providers for the long term". This ecosystem can accelerate development time and boost return on investment.
Bain & Company, April 2023
Ukraine's An-225 Mriya Helped Define a Nation—Then, Russia Killed It. Will It Fly Again?
It is very expensive to design and certify a one-off airplane. If the quality of your engineering documentation is poor, then a huge outlay arises again if you want to build a second one later on. Fundamentally though, is there a political payoff for a costly government halo project no private enterprise would touch?
Popular Mechanics, July 2023
Motorcycle Engine Coolers, aka Radiators
The overall efficiency of a modern gasoline engine is surprisingly dependent on the humble radiator. Its quiet development facilitates combustion and material optimization, but ultimately cooling performance is still reliant on temperature differential, or Δ T.
Cycle World, March 2023
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OK Surfers, How Much Would It Cost to Power Your Own Wave?
"Let’s not sweat the technical details. We’ll just assume you already have a small lake and can build a track next to it that pushes your giant electric-motor-powered hydrofoil." Although this sounds like a physicist's take on engineering, the difference in energy cost between gasoline and electricity powered drivers is insightful.
Wired, July 2023