In this blog post, we will look at how mechanical and aerospace engineering has changed human life and led to constant technological challenges.

Practical, versatile, and challenging: mechanical and aerospace engineering

When we think of machines, we often think of interlocking gears and engines that roar and spew smoke. When we think of aviation, we think of passenger planes carrying countless passengers and fighter jets cutting through the sky in the blink of an eye. This public perception is not entirely wrong. Broadly speaking, mechanical and aerospace engineering is a field of study that encompasses the entire process from the design of engines that generate power and the structures that transmit that power in the field of machinery, to the design and manufacture of aircraft in the field of aviation.
To make this vague explanation more familiar, let’s think of a character from a movie. It is the main character of the movie “Iron Man.” In the movie, he appears as a genius engineer who designs his own combat suit, creates a system that controls all the devices in his house, and invents various mechanical devices. His appearance is the ideal image of a mechanical and aerospace engineer.
In fact, mechanical and aerospace engineering is a versatile field that is essential to almost all industries, including automobiles, shipbuilding, construction, steel manufacturing, aviation, and space. In this article, we will introduce mechanical and aerospace engineering through three key words: practicality, versatility, and challenge.

Mechanical and aerospace engineering: a practical field

Mechanical and aerospace engineering is, above all, a practical field. It constantly strives to find ways to make human life more convenient and efficient.
Through the industrial revolution, humanity has dramatically improved productivity, automobiles and trains have provided new means of transportation, and airplanes have greatly contributed to connecting the world. At the center of all these innovations was mechanical and aerospace engineering. Numerous technologies that have had a profound impact on human progress have come from this field.
Mechanical and aerospace engineering is not just about grand inventions. The watches, cars, and home appliances we use every day are all the result of this field of study.
How accurately does a watch tell time? How can cars be made more fuel-efficient? Can airplanes transport more passengers faster with less fuel? Mechanical and aerospace engineering provides answers to these practical questions.

Versatile technology that shines everywhere

Mechanical and aerospace engineering is not limited to a single field. It is a “versatile engineering” that is applied across various technologies and industries. Almost all of the tools we use in our daily lives, such as cars, subways, computers, smartphones, and wristwatches, are imbued with mechanical and aerospace engineering technology.
If we compare this to a game, we can think of the “SCV” in StarCraft. The SCV, a worker of the Terran race, is weak in combat but performs all basic tasks such as gathering resources, constructing buildings, and repairing them. Without the SCV, the Terran camp cannot function. In the same way, mechanical engineers play an essential role in society, even if they are not visible.
This field of study goes beyond simple machine manufacturing and encompasses the core technologies necessary for designing and maintaining systems for society as a whole. It is for this reason that mechanical and aerospace engineering can be called a “versatile discipline.”

A history of challenges, a future of challenges

Mechanical and aerospace engineering has been accompanied by a history of constant challenges for humankind. British historian Arnold Toynbee said, “The history of humankind is a series of challenges and responses.”
Mechanical and aerospace engineering is a field at the forefront of these challenges.
The Industrial Revolution was a huge challenge that fundamentally changed human civilization, and it originated from the development of mechanical engineering.
The human desire to move faster led to the creation of automobiles and trains, and the desire to fly led to the creation of airplanes.
All of this was made possible because mechanical and aerospace engineers took on the challenge of developing new technologies. James Watt’s steam engine and the Wright brothers’ airplane are the results of their efforts.
If they had not taken on these challenges, we would not be able to enjoy today’s technological society.

The process of learning mechanical and aerospace engineering

In order to study mechanical and aerospace engineering, it is essential to have an engineering understanding of the world we live in.
In order to understand the scientific principles that govern the world, students learn about the four fundamental branches of mechanics: solid mechanics, thermodynamics, fluid mechanics, and dynamics. They also study engineering mathematics to develop mathematical thinking skills based on these principles.
Next, students move on to the design and manufacturing process to apply the theories they have learned in practice.
Design is the foundation and core of mechanical engineering, and students learn the basics through mechanical drawing and design.
In order to actually implement the designs, a manufacturing process is necessary, and for this purpose, students gain experience by actually making machines through practice-oriented courses such as creative engineering design.
Through this educational program, students grow into mechanical and aerospace engineers with both theoretical and practical skills.

Engineering for People and Humanity

The department song of the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering contains the following lines.

“Machines for people, aviation for liberation.”

These words show that mechanical and aerospace engineering is not just a technical field, but a discipline that contributes to making human life more convenient and expanding the scope of human activity.
Studying machines is a way to improve people’s lives, and studying aviation is a journey to pioneer spaces that humans have not yet reached.
Mechanical and aerospace engineering not only solves various problems in everyday life, but also serves as a “technical compass” that guides the future of humanity.
The name may sound unfamiliar and difficult, but this field of study is closer to human life than anything else and is a companion that provides new possibilities and dreams for humanity.
When climbing Mount Everest, even the most skilled climbers would find it difficult to reach the summit without a Sherpa.
Mechanical and aerospace engineering is like a Sherpa, a powerful helper that enables humanity to move forward into a new era.