Unit 5 the changing expectations of automotive engineers

In the past, automotive engineers were closely associated with the field of mechanical engineering. After all, most automotive engineers dealt with topics such as gasoline and diesel engines, transmissions, suspension systems, chassis, door handles, seats, etc. A few ventured off into new developments such as turbine gas engines, continuously variable transmissions, or even Sterling engines. Some dealt with plastics and painting systems. The vast majority of knowledge needed by the automotive engineer of the past was mechanical in nature.

The reality of today is that the automotive engineer is expected to know about far more than just mechanical engineering. To attract the best and brightest, the industry needs to project an image of the automotive engineer as someone with skills and knowledge beyond mechanical engineering.

The modern automobile has often been described as a computer on wheels. Electronics control component systems such as the engine, transmission, and brakes. Those controls have become not just add-ons but integral parts of the operation of each system and the whole vehicle. A focus is on intelligent vehicle technology, which highlighted the integration of more electronics into the vehicle.

No longer can design engineers "throw their designs over the wall" to the manufacturing engineer. The design engineer must know enough about the manufacturing capability of his/her organization or supplier, and the manufacturing engineer must be an early participant in the design team. Competitive quality and cost require that the design specifications match the manufacturing capability. Empty promises by manufacturing ("give us a design and we will build it") are no longer accepted.

Software development is not only necessary to achieve optimum operation of each vehicle computer, but vehicle performance evaluation prior to design is becoming standard practice. Computer simulation for demonstrating compliance with regulations will probably be widely accepted in the not-too-distant future.

Vocabulary Notes:

to associate	зв'язувати, асоціювати
mechanical engineering	машинобудування
suspension	почіпка
door handle	дверна ручка
to venture	наважатися
variable	різний, перемінний
majority	більшість
to attract	залучати
image	образ
add-on	приставка
integral	невід'ємний
to highlight	висувати на перший план
capability	потужність
supplier	постачальник
participant	учасник
quality	якість
competitive	конкурентноспроможний
cost	ціна
require	вимагати
software	програмне забезпечення
compliance	відповідність

Завдання 1. Дайте відповіді на наступні запитання.

1. What topics do automotive engineers deal with?

2. What is expected to know the automotive engineer?

3. How can we describe the modern automobile?

4. What must know the design engineer?

5. What will be accepted in the not-too-distant future?

Завдання 2. Доповніть речення згідно з змістом тексту.

1. In the past, automotive engineers were closely associated with the field of_________.

2. The vast majority of knowledge needed by the automotive engineer of the past was_________.

3. The modem automobile has often been described as a__________.

4. Competitive quality and cost require that the design specifications match the_________.

5. Computer simulation for demonstrating compliance with regulations will probably be widely accepted in________.

Завдання 3. Знайдіть a) синоніми та b) антоніми до наступних слів у тексті.

3. B.

1.area 1. present

2.describe 2. before

3.construct 3. the worst

4.different 4. yesterday

5.get 5. unnecessary

Завдання 4. Знайдіть речення, які відповідають змісту тексту.

1. In the past, automotive engineers were closely associated with the field of mechanical engineering.

2. The modern automobile has often been described as a computer on wheels.

3. No longer can design engineers "throw their designs over the wall" to the manufacturing engineer.

4. The main reason for these efforts is to solve social problems.

5. The main task now is to teach machines to operate without man's presence.

Завдання 5. Складіть речення з поданих слів.

1. control, brakes, component, engine, systems, as the such, transmission, and electronics.

2. A few, gas engines, ventured off, into, new, even, such, as turbine, continuously, variable, transmissions, or Sterling, engines, developments.

3. controls, have, not, just, operation, add-ons, but, integral, become, parts, of the of each system, and, the whole, those, vehicle.

4. manufacturing, can, design, engineers, "throw their designs over the wall engineer ", to, the, no, longer.

5. quality, the design, and, cost, competitive, capability, require, that, specifications, match, the manufacturing.