What is automotive engineering?
Abandonments of the automotive engineering are all single steps of the development process from the basic design and the configuration up to the accurate dimension and test, both of components and complete vehicles.
Typical examples are the components of drivetrain and transmission (combustion engine, gearbox), the wheel suspension with steering and brake and of course the body of the automobile or the frame of a heavy good vehicle.
The complex control- and safety systems of modern vehicles neccessitate a stronger connection of classic automotive mechanics and precision engineering and electronics. The further development of the basic antilocking system to the comprehensive driving dynamics control system ESP can be instanced.
IT-assistance in automotive engineering
In all phases of an automotive development process modern computer-aided development tools meet with usage. During the construction phase CAD-systems not only deliver fabrication documents of single components, they also enable a first overview of the cooperation of the components. Thus rare cavity can be optimally used.
Simulation programs admit a verification resp. test of the engineering by computer, long time before the first prototype is built. Two examples are to demonstrate this procedure:
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The protection of occupants demands, that the opponent mustn`t intruse too far when having a typical crossing accident (sidecrash). The video cardoor [source: MSC-Marc] shows the verification of a vehicle door under collateral impact load. The lines betray the underlying FEM-structure of the calculating model.
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The video clip LKW_F2000 [source MAN] shows a truck when turning into a circular path. The model is built up as a multi-body system and allows to have path and bias of lateral buckling depending on speed.
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After building the first preproduction models the results of the simulation have to be verified in tests with the means of the modern measurement. Objective is to get a marketable product with a number of "rounds" development-simulation-test as small as possible.
Automotive engineering in study
The access in the study of automotive engineering ocurs in the main study period, usually by electing the module of study "Fahrzeugtechnik". It delivers the basic tools of an automotive engineer. Because of the big band of fields of activity in automotive companies, the addendum by the second module of study can widely be taken according to personal preferences.
The automotive engineer in practice
In practice activities in the complete process of vehicle production stand open for the automotive engineer, from research and conception by development and production to sales and marketing. The access usually occurs as official in charge at a carmaker or in the automotive supply industry. After a short period of vocational adjustment the direction of project tasks can already be taken over. After successful work in the first field of activity within the scope of job rotation a change to an activity in another area of expertise or in the project management may occur. Thereby changes to abroad jobs are effective. For the further occupational history of the automotive engineer manifold options in professional work or in management open.