2.5 Major Developments in Technology Flashcards
Early 19th century
Electrical batteries and circuits:
- Basic lighting - Motors - Switches
Early 20th century
Vacuum tube (thermionic valve):
- Early amplifiers
- Radios
- TV's
- Computers
1940s
Transistor (semi-conductor):
- Portable radios and a reduction in the size of other electronic
products
1960s
‘Microelectronic’ ICs (approx 500 transistors):
- More powerful computers and highly portable devices such as
music players
1980s
Ultra large-scale ICs (ULSI) (1000000+ transistors):
- Laptops and mobile phones
2017
10,000,000,000+ transistors ICs:
- Supercomputers and prospect of even more powerful mobile
devices
Impact of compact cassette
Portability and convenience of enclosed recording tape
Cheap, easy to use and relatively reliable
Impact of CD
Reliable, wear-free storage of digital files
Portable and relatively high storage capacity
Impact of laser
Reliable, non-contact, light transmission of CD data
Impact of Ni-Mh batteries
Rechargeable, portable power
Impact of LCD display
Facilitates user display interface
Consumes less power than previous displays
Impact of Impact of MP3 (compressed digital audio)
Increased capacity of devices to store more songs
Impact of miniature hard drive
High-capacity storage capability
Impact of lithium batteries
Rechargeable power and longer battery life
Impact of flash (IC) storage
No moving parts improving reliability
Impact of capacitive touch screen
Improvements to user control and display interface
Impact of music streaming
Removable of the requirement to store files on devices
The Internet of things (IoT)
Network of multiple microelectronic devices using wi-fi and the internet.
It has many applications so far, for example:
- Smart fridges using cameras and radio frequency identification
(RFID) scanners to order products as they are used
- An automatic JiT manufacturing system that organises its own
the flow of parts and predictive maintenance of manufacturing
equipment
Research
1950s:
- Books - Film photography - Writing letters - Reading paper catalogues
Now:
- internet searches - Digital photography - PDFs - Use of mobile devices
Generating and Refining Design Ideas
1950s
- Sketching - Drawing boards - Rubbing out and re-drawing errors - Basic copying methods
Now:
- CAD - Graphics tablets - Parts libraries - Scanning to input data - 3D rendering
Design Collaboration and Communcation
1950s:
- Face-to-face meetings - Landline telephone calls - Postal communication
Now:
- Web conferences - Email texts - File sharing and cloud storage - Online collaboration
Modelling and Testing Ideas
1950s:
- Handmade models - Destructive testing - Calculations (sometimes with calculators)
Now:
- Virtual 3D CAD model - Finite elements analysis (FEA) - Complex computer applications
Manufacturing
1950s:
- Skilled operation of manual machines - Paper-based stock control - Manual handling
Now:
- CNC machines - Robotic devices - Computer monitored JiT systems - 3D printing
QC (quality control) and testing
1950s:
- Manual and visual inspection using verniers and gauges - Basic laboratory equipment
Now:
- Automated scanning - Digital imaging - Probe measuring linked to computers
State two features of glulam
Layered timber and glue used to create various components
- Elimination of timber defects
- Easy to form parts
- Good strength/weight ratio
- Sustainable
State one applications of glulam
- Buildings
- Bridges
- Other structures
State two features of kevlar
Fibre, which is often combined with resins
State one application for kevlar
- Bulletproof
- Puncture-resistant tyres
- Aircraft construction
State two features of graphene (nanomaterial)
Two-dimensional form of microscopic carbon particles with a honeycomb-like atomic structure
- Can be rolled into very thin and hollow tubes
- Very good tensile strength, hardness, heat resistance, and electrical conductively
- Lack of recyclability
State one application of graphene (nanomaterial)
- Medical treatment
- ‘Nanoelectronic’ devices
- Advanced coating
- Battery manufacture
State one feature of precious metal clay (PMC)
Microscopic particles of metals such as gold and silver are bound together in a pliable medium
- Easily hand-shaped before firing in an oven at 700
State one application of precious metal clay (PMC)
- Jewellery
- Decorative items
State how electrohydraulic forming work
Sheet metal is forced against a former by a shockwave from an electrical spark in a water tank
State two advantages of electrohydraulic forming
- Uses one-sided former
- Fast
- Great detail is possible
- Material is evenly distributed
State one application of electrohydraulic forming
- Electrical appliance cases
- Car parts
State how advanced 3D printing of metals using direct metal laser sintering (DMLS) works
A laser fuses metal particles, layer by layer
State two advantages of advanced 3D printing of metals using direct metal laser sintering (DMLS)
- Complex, strong and lightweight parts can be made
- Undercuts and internal voids are possible
State one application of advanced 3D printing of metals using direct metal laser sintering (DMLS)
- One-off prototypes and test parts
State how fibre injection moulding work
Injection moulding using pellets of glass or carbon fibre filled polymers such as polyamide (nylon)
State two advantages of fibre injection moulding
- Parts produced are very strong, stiff, lightweight, and economical to mould
- Facilitates sustainability by resuing carbon-fibre waste
State one application of fibre injection moulding
- Lightweight parts of aerospace
- Lightweight parts of automotive
- Sports equipment
- Medical equipment
State how laser beam welding work
Intense heat of a laser beam is used to join multiple pieces of metal
State two advantages of laser beam welding
- Faster than MIG/TIG
- Narrower, deep welds are possible
- Welds dissimilar metals
- Minimises distortion
- No finishing is needed
- Welds thin sheets
State one application of laser beam welding
- Shipbuilding
- Construction
- Automotive and railway equipment
State how physical vapour deposition (finishing process) work
Base material is vaporised and deposits a thin layer
State two advantages of physical vapour deposition (finishing process)
- Abrasion resistance
- Durability
- Large range of materials
- Uniform deposition
State one application of physical vapour deposition (finishing process)
- Semi-conductor components
- Food packaging
- Machine tool tips
- Decoratives products
Impact of standardised file of formats (e.g. DXF and STL)
Connect CAM/CAD processes for a wide range of software and hardware
Impact of extensible markup language (XML)
Improved file compatibility for a growing range of different software packages
Impact of finite element analysis (FEA) and computational fluid dynamics (CFD)
Simulate the impact of decisions being made at the design stage to make improvemts
Impact cloud-based (internet based) CAD/CAM software packages
Software accessibility from any computer improves designers’ productivity and independence as well as facilitating growth of mass customisation
Impact of virtual-reality systems incorporating 3D headsets and haptic (sensory) feedback
A realistic appraisal of virtual designs in their environment and additional CAD tools
QC (quality control) and testing
1950s:
- Manual and visual inspection using verniers and gauges - Basic laboratory equipment
Now:
- Automated scanning - Digital imaging - Probe measuring linked to computers
