Future Mechanical Engineering Domains

In summary: Automation will make parts of the design process more efficient, but the creativity and intuition of the engineer will always be a crucial part of the process.Biomechanics has been growing steadily over the past few decades, and the subfield of injury biomechanics even moreso. Automated tools will probably become more and more used but you can't hand a blank sheet of paper to the computer and ask it to start designing. Automation will make parts of the design process more efficient, but the creativity and intuition of the engineer will always be a crucial part of the process.
  • #1
Simas
19
2
Hi,

Which technology specializations within the mechanical engineering domain will be most demanded in the future?

(I am looking for different technologies rather than for applications enabled by the technology. For example not 'robotics', but rather the technologies used for robotics)

Thanks a lot for your help!
 
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  • #2
Probably the same specializations most demanded today (in no particular order):
materials
mechanism design
structural design
thermodynamics
fluid dynamics
etc.
 
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  • #3
Complex fluids is (are?) an area of physics research that is slowly morphing into the engineering domain. Sometimes this is known as rheology, but the study of complex fluids is a bit broader. There are a lot of nontrivial fluid mechanics that go into figuring out how thing like polymer solutions and colloidal materials work, not to mention the extremely applied problem of how to get oil out of the ground. Have a look at the Garreth McKinley group at MIT Mechanical Engineering, they do a lot of experimental and theoretical work on complex fluids, things like reducing the drag on ships by dumping polymer solution into the water in front of them, identifying turbulence transitions in non-Newtonian fluids, etc.
 
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  • #4
klotza said:
Complex fluids is (are?) an area of physics research that is slowly morphing into the engineering domain. Sometimes this is known as rheology, but the study of complex fluids is a bit broader. There are a lot of nontrivial fluid mechanics that go into figuring out how thing like polymer solutions and colloidal materials work, not to mention the extremely applied problem of how to get oil out of the ground. Have a look at the Garreth McKinley group at MIT Mechanical Engineering, they do a lot of experimental and theoretical work on complex fluids, things like reducing the drag on ships by dumping polymer solution into the water in front of them, identifying turbulence transitions in non-Newtonian fluids, etc.

Hi Klotza,
Thanks a lot for your insight!
 
  • #5
gmax137 said:
Probably the same specializations most demanded today (in no particular order):
materials
mechanism design
structural design
thermodynamics
fluid dynamics
etc.

Hi gmax137,

Thank you for your reply. Do you maybe have an idea of which areas within mechanism design or structural design will be most demanded and which areas would rather be automated?
(I expect that a big portion of structural and mechanism design could be automated with for example topology optimization algorithms)
 
  • #6
"Most demanded" is really a market question about the future, so I won't claim to have any special insight.

Biomechanics has been growing steadily over the past few decades, and the subfield of injury biomechanics even moreso.
 
  • #7
I think the creative parts of the process will be most demanded. Automated tools will probably become more and more used but you can't hand a blank sheet of paper to the computer and ask it to start designing.
 
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FAQ: Future Mechanical Engineering Domains

What are some potential future domains in mechanical engineering?

Some potential future domains in mechanical engineering include nanotechnology, biotechnology, renewable energy, robotics, and virtual/augmented reality.

How will nanotechnology impact mechanical engineering in the future?

Nanotechnology, which involves manipulating materials at the nanoscale level, has the potential to revolutionize mechanical engineering by allowing for the development of smaller, more efficient and durable devices and machines.

What role will biotechnology play in the future of mechanical engineering?

Biotechnology, which involves using biological processes in engineering, can be applied to create new materials, improve energy efficiency, and even develop new medical treatments. In the future, it may be used to create bio-inspired designs and materials with unique properties.

How will renewable energy impact the field of mechanical engineering?

Renewable energy, such as solar, wind, and hydro power, will play a crucial role in reducing our dependence on fossil fuels and mitigating the effects of climate change. As a result, mechanical engineers will need to develop technologies and systems to harness and store renewable energy efficiently.

How will robotics and virtual/augmented reality change the way mechanical engineers work?

Robotics and virtual/augmented reality have the potential to transform the way mechanical engineers design, test, and manufacture products. These technologies can facilitate faster and more accurate prototyping, improve safety in manufacturing processes, and enhance human-machine interactions.

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