How Do You Engineer?

This week we throwback to Episode 22 on engineering education to discuss our ideas for improving tomorrow’s engineers. From med schools to plant waterbeds, we’ll walk you through the best way to educate engineering undergrads... or the best way in our opinion at least. Pete also outlines his top tips for getting a job after graduating; hint: spellcheck is your friend.

Have you ever wanted to get together with a group of interesting and intelligent people, excited about engineering, to drink beer and learn how to build robots for a weekend? If your answer is yes...or yes now...then a hackathon is the ticket! Adriana Ieraci joined us this week to talk about hackathons ,maker culture, and the bridges that bring diverse people from all backgrounds into the engineering space.

This week we hit the mail sack and answer a question from a listener. Turns out we have been talking a lot about Systems Engineering without sussing out just what that means. It's a common question, especially among systems engineers. As it turns out it's a pretty loose definition. In fact, you might be a systems engineer and not even know it! If you're interested in systems level problem solving and pushing the limits of what engineering actually is, you're in for a treat.

This week we talk about improving engineering education for the next generation. Listen as we rant about what is wrong with the current system, while discussing our pie-in-the-sky ideas for making university better with project-based learning paradigms. Simon exercises his dad joke muscle, and we agree that alarms where people call you from Russia are a little creepy. From robot dog kisses to eigenvalues, join us as we highlight our education shortfalls.

This week we try to keep things civil with Andrew Messer. Andrew is our first civil engineer, and the engineer that has come from the furthest afield. We get our feet wet learning about water resources and land development, and try to find a better way to dispose of the truly unreasonable amount of diapers that Simon and Pete are now consuming.

We work for a company that specializes in mechatronics, so we're the experts on what mechantronics actually is... right? Probably. This week we delve into the definition of mechatronics engineering by playing a game inspired by John Siracusa: Mechatronics or Not? From cars to laptops, we'll let you know if the systems around you are truly mechatronic.

This week Tyler Campaigne joins us from the fancy boardroom at Vidyard to chat about video hosting, web development and startups. We learn what a full stack developer actually is, and explore the best way to drink in a boat… er, we mean fish. Pete suggests ramming the fish with spike-equipped submarines; Abbey is saddened by the idea. From Y Combinator to the day-to-day of a software architect, Tyler gives us a glimpse into the life of a VP at a successful startup.

Sometimes engineers and technical types use acronyms and initialisms to save time, or to just sound smarter. A classic example from the world of mechatronics and control systems is PID control. This week Pete walks the winding path of what a PID controller is, and how you might use one. Despite his best efforts things get a little complicated, but our hope is that in the end you gain a little insight into one of the most important algorithms in the modern world.

In the rarest of cases, the challenge of engineering is taken on by enterprising individuals with hopes, dreams, curiosity, cases of beer, and little to no formal training. One such courageous soul joined us this week to talk about the trials and tribulations of a self-made engineer. From turf management and biomechanics, to power management and electromechanics, Gord Fogg has broken into the weird and twisted world of engineering and lived to tell the tale.

In the past we featured the technology of today’s tomorrow, today we feature the technology of future tomorrows. Nanobots, atomic printers, and the matrix may be science fiction, but even the humble hoverboard bested us on this one.