Question on branch of engineering

[chiako]

This may be a strange question, but humor it if you would. I have perhaps watched one too many science fiction shows, but I digress. If one wanted to get into a field, say, involving cyborgs or some such, what would that be? What if one wanted to put a brain or transfer consciousness into a fully artificial body, not unlike an android or something. Would it be something like biomedical, mechanical, something else entirely, impossible, or too many types of fields to study?

 

[russ_watters]

Welcome to PF.

Most of the time, when you are dealing with a complex machine, whether it be a space shuttle, car, or cyborg, most major disciplines of engineering are involved. The broader fields of mechanical and electrical are essentially always represented, but if you look hard enough, you'll even find civil and environmental engineering in the space program.

So don't think in terms of wanting to build an entire cyborg yourself, just think about the most interesting part and get into that field of study. Do you like the mechanics of making it move? Mechanical engineering. The computer hardware and controls? Electrical engineering. Programming the intelligence? Computer engineering.

 

[chiako]

Welcome to PF.

Most of the time, when you are dealing with a complex machine, whether it be a space shuttle, car, or cyborg, most major disciplines of engineering are involved. The broader fields of mechanical and electrical are essentially always represented, but if you look hard enough, you'll even find civil and environmental engineering in the space program.

So don't think in terms of wanting to build an entire cyborg yourself, just think about the most interesting part and get into that field of study. Do you like the mechanics of making it move? Mechanical engineering. The computer hardware and controls? Electrical engineering. Programming the intelligence? Computer engineering.

Good, this is what I was thinking, too. Some machines are far too complex for anyone thing to be it wholey. It takes a team doing these sorts of things. Thank you for your insight.