To familiarize students with the engineering resources (core technologies), the building blocks of the designed world. Identify and describe the core technologies.

• To familiarize students with the engineering resources (core technologies), the building blocks of the designed world.

• Identify and describe the core technologies (mechanical, structural, electrical, electronic, thermal, fluid, optical, bio, and material) as they are applied in the designed world.

A technology system is a group of resources (subsystems) working together to solve problems

and extend human capabilities.

Core Technologies:•Mechanical

•Structural

•Electrical

•Electronic

•Thermal

•Fluid

•Optical

•Bio-Tech

•Material

• There are several engineering resources (core technologies) that are the “building blocks” of all technology systems.

Core Technologies

Mechanical

Structural Electrical

Electronic Thermal

Fluid Optical

Bio-Tech Material

• The technology of putting together mechanical parts to produce, control, and transmit motion.

Mechanical Technology –

•Example applications: gear systems in a car transmission, brakes on a bicycle, agitator in a washing machine, latch on a door.

• The technology of putting mechanical parts and materials together to create supports, containers, shelters, connectors, and functional shapes.

Structural Technology –

•Example applications: legs on a chair, city water tower, swimming pool, roadways, bridges, storm sewer, airplane wing, satellite antenna disc.

• The technology of producing, storing, controlling, transmitting and getting work from electrical energy.

Electrical Technology –

•Example applications: power plant generator, flashlight, electric motor in a can opener, doorbell, electric heater, hair dryer.

• The technology of using small amounts of electricity for controlling; detecting; and information collecting, storing, retrieving, processing and communicating.

Electronic Technology –

•Example applications: thermostat for controlling temperature, a metal detector, video tape recorder, computer, pocket calculator, telephone, radio, television.

• The technology of using fluid, either gaseous (pneumatics) or liquid (hydraulic) to apply force or to transport.

Fluid Technology –

•Example applications: air brakes on a truck, tires on a car, airfoils on an airplane, warm-air heating ducts, hydraulic jack, plumbing in a school.

• The technology of producing light; using light for information collecting, storing, retrieving, processing and communicating; and using light to do work.

Optical Technology –

•Example applications: lightbulb, light-emitting diode, lenses to magnify or reduce, laser speed detector, laser compact disk, fiber-optic telephone communication, laser cutting tools, laser surgical instruments.

• The technology of producing, storing, controlling, transmitting and getting work from heat energy.

Thermal Technology –

•Example applications: furnace, hot water heater, toaster, insulation, heat exchanger, refrigerator, jet engine, hot air balloon.

• The technology of using, adapting, and altering organisms and biological processes for a desired outcome.

Biotechnology –

•Example applications: “stain-eating” enzymes in detergent, bacteria “leaching” metals from ore, altering plant genes to produce better crops.

• The technology of producing, altering, and combining materials.

Materials Technology –

•Example applications: producing paper from wood, producing aluminum from ore, drilling holes in wood, annealing to soften metal, laminating wood.

• Analyze a technology system, focus on its function and application.

• Identify the problem that the technology system solves.

• List the resources (core technologies) you recognize in the technology system.








