4 ways engineers are changing the world

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4 ways engineers are changing the world

The magic of engineering powers our everyday lives. Here are a few ways engineers are making the world a better, safer and more convenient place to live.

From sportswear to airplanes, the art and science of engineering powers a huge portion of our lives. Behind every engine, app and shoe, there is a team of engineers that makes it all possible.

Let’s take a look at how these unsung heroes are making a quiet but significant impact and changing the way we live.

Championing the world of sports

An athlete is a high-performance machine. Hence, when it comes to supporting powerhouses like Usain Bolt, engineers are called in to apply their expertise to shoe design. The quality of a shoe affects the performance of the sportsperson.

When designing the optimal shoe, engineers take into account critical factors like shock absorption, flexibility, fit and traction. During the development process, engineers called biomechanists perform gait analysis to evaluate human kinetics. Shoes are also put through various stress tests to determine shock absorption, flexibility, stiffness and traction. With engineers, shoe design is a precise and complex process geared at optimising the performance of our super humans.

Keeping the world moving

On-demand transportation has disrupted the way we live. Companies like Uber and Grab have made rides readily available simply at a few touches of a smartphone screen.  Behind every ride is a complex network of IT infrastructure and programmes. IT engineers work to keep the systems running so we can get rides round the clock. Software engineers ensure that the app is working and the algorithm pairs drivers with riders in the shortest time possible. Backend software engineers support the underlying infrastructure, making sure it is solid and robust enough to withstand peak demands and expand services into new areas.

Powering your next vacation

Before a plane takes off to your next holiday destination, there is extensive work to be done. On the ground, engineers and technicians inspect the plane for any potential faults or defects before flight. Engines are a core part of the plane and these are serviced thoroughly. Services, like TotalCare® from Rolls-Royce, ensure that the engines are always performing at tip-top condition. Meanwhile, engineers at the Rolls-Royce Seletar Assembly and Testing Unit (SATU) and Fan Blade Singapore (FBSG) facilities put in meticulous work to produce high-performance engines that power some of the world’s most advanced aircraft, including the Airbus A380 and Boeing 787 Dreamliner.  Each year, they produce over 8,600 fan blades and assemble up to 250 engines.  

Rolls-Royce is also looking to develop Internet of Things (IoT) sensors, together with data scientists, to help track the performance of these engines in service to improve the repair and maintenance operations, making them even more efficient.

Creating a more sustainable future

Engineers are responsible for finding new ways to design engines that are fuel-efficient. By coming up with innovations that deliver the same amount of power with reduced carbon footprint and fuel usage, engineers are playing their part in creating a more sustainable world.

For instance, Rolls-Royce engineers help reduce waste production and optimise the efficiency of engines through their services and expertise. That approach keeps engines flying for longer, lessening demand for new products and components that require expensive complex materials and resources to manufacture. Meanwhile, Rolls-Royce also recycles up to 95 percent of a used aero engine to remanufacture new aerospace components, without compromising safety and using new raw materials.

The work of engineers is embedded into every facet of daily life. As we face a world of new opportunities and growing demands, the principles of innovation, reliability, and excellence in engineering are essential for solving problems—both today and tomorrow.

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Rolls-Royce develops and delivers complex power and propulsion solutions for safety-critical applications in the air, at sea and on land.









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