Birth of Mechanical Engineering and a Glimpse …
27
Fig. 31 Model of ATP
Synthase
Apart from the trend of miniaturization, the shrinking of time involved is also a
feature of the emerging technologies. So now engineers are handling time durations
of picoseconds and femtoseconds. Another extremely important aspect of modern
engineering is simulation and modeling. This requires sound understanding of the
science behind a phenomenon and good expertise in the mathematical and computational tools. With the capability to peer down at the molecular level, the mysteries of
life are unraveling many new concepts and information. The engineers have started
realizing that the nature being the best designer it is worthwhile to imitate nature
and many natural processes related to living objects. The ability to miniaturize and
manipulate at the molecular level has opened up new avenues for achieving artificial intelligence and creating truly intelligent devices. This, however, requires the
modern engineers to be far more knowledgeable in modern science including life
science. An intensive integration of material physics/chemistry, material science with
Mechanical Design and Manufacturing will be necessary.
Many areas of electrical and computer science will merge with the mechanical
design of machines and devices. As machines will have much higher level of resemblance to living objects, many aspects of life science will become integral parts of
design and manufacturing. Micro-system technology will play a predominant role.
Thus, many new concepts in design and fabrication will take the center stage.
A new subject ‘Synthetic Biology’ which will lead to the design and development of machines and devices following the principles of biology is emerging. Such
systems will be, obviously, inanimate objects but will behave like living objects in
many respects.
A mechanical engineer of the future will have to acquire competence in many
new areas as indicated below:
Molecular Engineering
Synthetic Biology
Smart Macromolecules and
27
Fig. 31 Model of ATP
Synthase
Apart from the trend of miniaturization, the shrinking of time involved is also a
feature of the emerging technologies. So now engineers are handling time durations
of picoseconds and femtoseconds. Another extremely important aspect of modern
engineering is simulation and modeling. This requires sound understanding of the
science behind a phenomenon and good expertise in the mathematical and computational tools. With the capability to peer down at the molecular level, the mysteries of
life are unraveling many new concepts and information. The engineers have started
realizing that the nature being the best designer it is worthwhile to imitate nature
and many natural processes related to living objects. The ability to miniaturize and
manipulate at the molecular level has opened up new avenues for achieving artificial intelligence and creating truly intelligent devices. This, however, requires the
modern engineers to be far more knowledgeable in modern science including life
science. An intensive integration of material physics/chemistry, material science with
Mechanical Design and Manufacturing will be necessary.
Many areas of electrical and computer science will merge with the mechanical
design of machines and devices. As machines will have much higher level of resemblance to living objects, many aspects of life science will become integral parts of
design and manufacturing. Micro-system technology will play a predominant role.
Thus, many new concepts in design and fabrication will take the center stage.
A new subject ‘Synthetic Biology’ which will lead to the design and development of machines and devices following the principles of biology is emerging. Such
systems will be, obviously, inanimate objects but will behave like living objects in
many respects.
A mechanical engineer of the future will have to acquire competence in many
new areas as indicated below:
Molecular Engineering
Synthetic Biology
Smart Macromolecules and