"Wisdom begins in wonder" – Socrates
Tag: Mechatronic Engineering
Why Climate Change Will Make Video Games Run Slower
09/10/22
“Why will climate change make video games run slower?”
Video games run on computer components. Computer components run slower in overheated environments. With climate change, more environments will become overheated. Pulling all of this together, it is easy to see why Why Climate Change Will Make Video Games Run Slower
Why Programming Errors in Mechatronic Infrastructure Systems Can Lead to More Carbon Emissions
07/20/22
“Why can programming errors in mechatronic infrastructure systems lead to more carbon emissions?”
Programming errors in mechatronic infrastructure systems can lead to greater inefficiencies. These can cascade into delayed work and wasted energy, which in turn can lead to greater carbon emissions. This is Why Programming Errors in Mechatronic Infrastructure Systems Can Lead to More Carbon Emissions.
Why Stockpiling Field Hospitals Is Good for Both Wartime and Climate Adaptation Capacity
04/17/22
“Why is stockpiling field hospitals good for both wartime and climate adaptation capacity?“
Field hospitals are a marvelous invention. When a crisis breaks out, it can be whipped out to save lives and heal people who are in critical need. This is especially important during wartime and climate disasters when on-the-go medical treatment is crucial. By stockpiling them, governments and organizations can increase their preparedness for these events. This is Why Stockpiling Field Hospitals Is Good for Both Wartime and Climate Adaptation Capacity.
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Fluid Flow Monitoring in Pipes
09/13/20
“How can we monitor fluid flow in pipes?”
Pipes are one of the cornerstones of our modern infrastructure. However, sometimes we may need to monitor how much water goes through it in case of any trouble arising. Through Fluid Flow Monitoring in Pipes using sensors, we can see the flow rate of the fluids and when they become critical. This can become very useful for flood resilience work.
Why Police Body Cameras Can Increase Law Enforcement Accountability
05/28/20
“Why is implementing body cameras on police a good idea?”
Like any state agency, police forces hold the potential to misuse their authority, culminating in horrific outbreaks such as what was recently seen in Minneapolis. In the past, these forces were able to get away with such events. However, with the advent of body cameras, footage can be automatically recorded to show any human rights violations taking place, allowing for proper evidence for prosecution. This is Why Police Body Cameras Can Increase Accountability.
Image credit urban.org
Digitization and Its Implications for Manufacturing
05/26/19
“What is digitization and how will it affect manufacturing?”
With the rise of the industrial internet of things, engineering processes are moving more and more towards the digital realm. This means that components once limited to the physical realm, such as mail and design models, are moving into the virtual one as e-mail and CAD. This digitization will have a lot of ramifications for the manufacturing sector, where processes will now be less prone to human error and move a lot faster while being more prone to cyber-security issues. This are the Implications for Manufacturing from Digitization.
Image credit http://recodesolutions.com
Induction Cooking
05/08/19
“How can flameless cooking be done through magnetism?”
Preparing food is one of the most important elements of human life. Every culture has placed some form of emphasis on it, and cherishes it to the utmost. However, in the past in has relied on burning gas, coal, or wood to operate. Not only is this dangerous to the environment and human health but is also inefficient. But with the advance of new technology, cooking can be done in an entirely new way. Instead of having separate burners, the cookstove can be a flat magnetic plate. When activated, the magnets will induce eddy currents into the cookware, generating heat and cooking food. Not only is this much more energy efficient but also uses no flames! This Induction Cooking is a great way to decarbonize the world of cooking.
Image credit Wikipedia
Ultracapacitors for EVs
02/08/19
“What is one possible way to speed up EV recharge times?”
In order to achieve deep-decarbonization of transportation, the global vehicle fleet needs to become much more electrified. However, the long recharge times associated with electric vehicles are a roadblock for this to happen. One way to solve this would be to implement Ultracapacitors for EVs. Ultracapacitors have quick recharge times, low weight, and low degradation, making them a formidable option. The downside is that manny ultracapacitors lack the storage capacity found in traditional solid-state batteries. But if this problem gets solved, then expect a paradigm shift in the EV industry!
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Synchronous Compensators
01/02/18
“How can we use synchronous motors to stabilize the grid?”
Synchronous Motors are great for precision control applications. But their usage can be applied to grid stabilizations. Since voltage in a grid can fluctuate, by running synchronous motors at no-load speeds we can effectively have a load that adds inertia to the system, therefore mellowing out the voltage fluctuation. These devices are known as a Synchronous Compensators and are a vital part of the modern grid.
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