In 2020, the pandemic impacted many industries all over the globe. Engineering wasn’t one. Engineering is still the driving force behind the technological advancement and prowess of humanity.
Even a pandemic won’t stop engineers from working. It only provided new challenges for specialists.
Tech students are in an exciting time right now. It’s normal to struggle to keep up with engineering achievements. Every day, there are many of them in a variety of fields. Let’s now narrow it down to the five most important engineering trends for 2022.
You can be inspired by them, regardless of whether you are an unsure student who seeks engineering homework help or professional checking news. You could soon be an innovator in one of these trends.
Auto-Driving Vehicles
The news has been dominated by incidents that occurred during testing. However, most self-driving car prototypes are still in their final stages. They may soon be on the roads.
Japan is now leasing one model of Honda’s Legend Hybrid EX sedan. This vehicle is a limited edition.
The Level 3 automation system is included. Also known as “eyes off”, It can be used for other tasks, such as texting, but the driver will still have full control and be available to assist if necessary.
Robot Workplace Companions
They can be used in dangerous situations instead of people. They can also free up time for workers to do non-automatable tasks. This would enable labor to be used more efficiently.
The most popular one – Spot – was designed to perform tasks such as maintenance, inspection, mapping, and more. It is the first Boston Dynamics product. Stretch, a box-lifting robotics robot, is being developed by the company. It will be available for commercial release in 2013. It could be a major breakthrough in warehouse automation.
Sustainable Energy Production
Climate change is serious business. Sustainable energy production is a top priority for both governments and companies. The EU, for example, passed the European Green Deal which sets the goal of becoming climate-neutral by 2050.
These goals require investments and subsidies. The demand for solar panels, wind turbines and hydroelectric facilities will increase. The consumer demand for solar panels at an affordable price is also increasing.
This is not all. Some of the most brilliant minds on Earth continue to search for sustainable energy sources. Green hydrogen could be one of the alternative fuels to fossil fuels. It produces no carbon dioxide emissions.
More autonomous electric vehicles
Globally, more than 3 million electric vehicles have been sold. It is clear that electric cars are in high demand due to consumers’ desire for an environmentally friendly mode of transport.
Engineers still have many challenges to overcome. Limited autonomy is one of these. Although electric vehicles are more expensive than gasoline-powered cars, they last several hundred miles long.
This could change with the new technology that will be developed in 2022. QuantumScape is a Silicon Valley startup working on a lithium metal battery. It could replace the lithium-ion battery in electric cars.
The device is currently in early testing but the results look promising. This innovative battery was tested and showed an 80% increase in range without the need to recharge. If all testing is successful, the first lithium metal batteries for electric cars will be installed by 2025.
3D printing
It’s not surprising that 3D printing is on this list. 3D printing has already been embraced by the mass market, with 3D printers now being available at a reasonable price of $200-300.
Engineers’ fascination with 3D printing has continued to this day. They challenge the technology’s limits and find new uses.
Recent breakthroughs in tissue printing, and personalized medicine are just two examples. 3D printing dentistry is not science fiction.
It is obvious that 3D printing has the greatest potential in medicine. It’s not the only use of 3D printing.
Already, the technology has transformed construction by 3D printing entire buildings. It could also be used in manufacturing processes that require micro-precision.
