Mechanism (engineering)

A mechanism is a device designed to transform input forces and movement into a desired set of output forces and movement. Mechanisms generally consist of moving components such as gears and gear trains, belt and chain drives, cam and follower mechanisms, and linkages as well as friction devices such as brakes and clutches, and structural components such as the frame, fasteners, bearings, springs, lubricants and seals, as well as a variety of specialized machine elements such as splines, pins and keys.

The German scientist Reuleaux provides the definition "a machine is a combination of resistant bodies so arranged that by their means the mechanical forces of nature can be compelled to do work accompanied by certain determinate motion." In this context, his use of machine is generally interpreted to mean mechanism.

The combination of force and movement defines power, and a mechanism is designed to manage power in order to achieve a desired set of forces and movement.

Engineering

Engineering is the application of mathematics, empirical evidence and scientific, economic, social, and practical knowledge in order to invent, innovate, design, build, maintain, research, and improve structures, machines, tools, systems, components, materials, and processes.

The discipline of engineering is extremely broad, and encompasses a range of more specialized fields of engineering, each with a more specific emphasis on particular areas of applied science, technology and types of application.

The term Engineering is derived from the Latin ingenium, meaning "cleverness" and ingeniare, meaning "to contrive, devise".

Definition

The American Engineers' Council for Professional Development (ECPD, the predecessor of ABET) has defined "engineering" as:

History

Engineering has existed since ancient times as humans devised fundamental inventions such as the wedge, lever, wheel, and pulley. Each of these inventions is essentially consistent with the modern definition of engineering.

Audio engineer

An audio engineer works on the recording, manipulation, mixing, reproduction, and reinforcement of sound. Audio engineers work on the "...technical aspect of recording—the placing of microphones, the turning of pre-amp knobs, the setting of levels. The physical recording of any project is done by an engineer ... the nuts and bolts." Many audio engineers creatively use technologies to produce sound for film, radio, television, music, electronic products and computer games. Audio engineers also set up and operate sound reinforcement systems for concert, corporate, theatre, sporting and other events.

Alternatively, the term audio engineer can refer to a scientist or professional engineer who holds a B.Sc. or M.Sc. who designs, develops and builds new audio technologies working within the field of acoustical engineering.

Audio engineering concerns the creative and practical aspects of sounds including speech and music, as well as the development of new audio technologies and advancing scientific understanding of audible sound.

Cal Poly Pomona College of Engineering

The Cal Poly Pomona College of Engineering is the engineering college at California State Polytechnic University, Pomona (Cal Poly Pomona) located in Pomona, California, United States. With over 5,600 undergraduate students (as of fall 2015), it is the largest engineering college in Southern California, the second largest college of engineering in the California State University system, and the seventeenth largest engineering college in the United States. In 2013 U.S. News & World Report ranks Cal Poly Pomona's undergraduate program 14th in the nation (for Master's-granting universities), and mentions that Cal Poly Pomona "has one of the top ranked engineering programs, and graduates roughly 1 of every 14 engineers in the state of California."

Because of the hands-on approach to academics and undergraduate focus, the college of engineering at Cal Poly Pomona is among the most selective engineering colleges in the nation and most of its departments are currently declared impacted (hold stringent standards for admissions). For fall 2015, the college admitted 45.3 percent of its total freshmen applicants who held an average unweighted GPA of 3.72 (out of 4.00) and SATs of 1178 (out of 1600), making the college admissions process statistically comparable to the University of California campuses at Davis, Irvine, and Santa Barbara.