WHAT IS THE MAIN ROLE OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERS IN IOT?
Perhaps the alarm clock that makes coffee is one of humanity's most ingenious inventions. We are already waiting for the invention of a teleport that would easily transfer us from bed directly to the workplace. However it might make sense dreaming about the machine that prints money then ;)
IOTs (Internet of things) are being used in more and more devices. The washing machine, which knows better how to wash your shirts, the steamer that cooks turkey tastier than your mother (but we won’t tell her about it), the batteries that heat your apartment while you are getting home.
New startups aimed to make our lives easier are created every single day. So what is the role of mechanical engineers in creating all these useful things?
- IOT devices need firmware, plates, sensors, etc. Combining the principles of engineering physics and mathematics with materials science, mechanical engineers design, analyze and maintain devices that contain IOT.
- Each IOT device needs a unique structure for perfect installation. Mechanical engineers develop the necessary subcomponents to install the device for diverse applications.
- Mechanical engineers are responsible for developing hardware that can work under different extreme conditions, such as high temperatures and humidity (as our case - Shower - link), low temperatures, outdoors or in basements. They are also responsible for uninterrupted interaction between hardware and software.
- An essential mechanic's work is to make all these devices stable, because most of them will not be replaced as often as a smartphone or PC. For instance, equipment such as Internet-routes, smart thermostats or house cameras/security systems - we do not even think about how they work, we do not check their serviceability or working conditions. We definitely rely on the fact that they are going to be in order for good, preferably without repair and our own participation.
However, it should be noted that cooperation with other engineers is essential if we want to create devices with IOT. These devices depend on software, hardware and machine learning, which together provide effective communication between individual devices and the cloud. That is why the Internet of things’s infrastructure depends on the operation of software, electrical engineering, industrial engineering, materials and mechanical engineering. Accordingly, it is significant for all types of engineers to be in the project from the very beginning, from the moment the idea arises to the production of the final product.
The example of a car can be used to show the cooperation of different types of engineers:
- Mechanical engineers control the aerodynamics and suspension bracket of the vehicle.
- Electrical engineers design battery distribution systems.
- Software engineers (programmers) develop programs that control the functions of the dashboard or respond to changing conditions on the road or under the hood.
One of the valuable advantages of our company, Embrox, is that we have all types of engineers in our team, who can create a finished product with IOT. You can get acquainted with our cases here (link to case studies).
P.S. Nevertheless, if you have an idea of how to invent a teleport, we are definitely ready to work with you on very favorable terms.
IOT
NPD
Hardware
Software
StartUp
Mechanical engineering
engineering
PROTOTYPING
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