Automotive engineering is a combination of mechanical, electrical and materials science.
Engineers in this field usually design new vehicles and explore ways to improve existing automotive engineering technology.
Automotive engineers design and test brake systems, engines, safety mechanisms, fuel technologies and transmissions. Tools used include design software to devise new vehicle designs or systems. Typical design software:
- ThinkDesign Engineering
- Gamma Technologies GT-SUITE
- Corel Painter Sketch Pad
Automotive engineers also fabricate prototype parts for testing by using grinders, machine tools and workshop presses.
Within automotive engineering there are many disciplines important to the automotive engineer. Automotive electronics, for example, is an increasingly important aspect of automotive engineering.
There are many electronic systems employed by modern vehicles. These systems are responsible for operational controls such as the throttle, brake and steering controls as well as many comfort and convenience systems such as lighting systems, the HVAC and infotainment.
Without electronic controls, automobiles could not possibly meet modern safety and fuel economy requirements.
Fuel economy is the measured fuel efficiency of the vehicle in miles per gallon or kilometers per liter. Emissions testing focuses on the measurement of vehicle emissions, including hydrocarbons, nitrogen oxides (NOx), carbon monoxide (CO), carbon dioxide (CO2), and evaporative emissions.
Safety engineering, on the other hand, assesses crash scenarios and how these crashes impact occupants. All these safety tests are measured against stringent governmental regulations. Some of these requirements include seat belt and air bag functionality testing, front and side impact testing, and tests of rollover resistance.
In automotive engineering, assessments are done with specific methods and tools such as crash test dummies, computer crash simulation and partial system sled and full vehicle crashes.
Want to know more about automotive engineering? Tonex offers several Automotive Engineering courses.
Tonex also offers nearly 400 classes, seminars and workshops in close to four dozen categories of systems engineering training.
For more information, questions, comments, contact us.