Yes. Automotive engineering needs coding,
especially when it comes to modeling, designs, or just for controls and
simulations.
The world has gone digital and almost all
professional fields rely greatly on technology for implementation and execution.
From a layman’s view, automotive might look like just the design of cars.
Yunno, how hard can it be?
But the truth is, that automotive
engineering is not restricted to the construction of just metal sheets and the installation
of seats. Most of the cars available in the market work on embedded systems and
these systems are built with the C programming language. From vehicle
diagnostics, to testing, and simulation, every automotive engineer will need to
code. Probably not that much, but you’ll interact greatly with tools like
MATLAB, Rhapsody, and Simulink while running a few tasks on an IDE or code
editor.
Let’s dive deeper into automotive
engineers and their need for coding.
What is coding in automotive?
Coding in Automotive is a new phenomenon
in automobile engineering and manufacturing. It involves the use of software, and
technological implementations for modifications, designs, and developments, to
ensure that the functions and usage of a car are available according to
regulations governing the production.
Coding in automotive ranges from ECU
programming to modeling, use of vector tools, C/assembly language programming,
ISO standards, and Protocols. It is important to mention that ECU programming covers
the control and management of the car’s electronic system.
In the automotive industry, coding is
simply the integration of system engineering, architectural design, quality
controls, functional safety, and security to the mainframe of cars.
Do mechanical engineers need to know how to code?
Yes. Mechanical engineers need to know how
to code. Coding might not be the primary role of a mechanical engineer, but they
must know how to code. As a mechanical engineer need will arise for you to code
software, design electronic systems for these cars, and even tweak the controls
and modules.
From a far distance, it will always seem
like the work of mechanical engineers is restricted to the mechanical aspects
and designs of a vehicle. The truth is, it goes beyond that. A mechanical
engineer might sometimes go beyond just designing and constructing the engine,
transmission, chassis, and suspension of the cars to ensure that the embedded
systems work. Some of these require coding knowledge.
However, coding isn’t compulsory for mechanical engineers. Some engineers can collaborate with software developers instead of learning or writing the codes themselves.
Why mechanical/automotive engineers need to know how to code
Aside from the need to stay up-to-date
with trends, there are quite a lot of reasons why mechanical and automotive
engineers need to know how to code. Here are some of the reasons why mechanical
and automotive engineers need to know how to code:
1. 1.
Innovation and Technological advancement
With the increase in the integration of technology and automation in the mechanical and automotive industries, there is a growing need for engineers to learn how to The increasing integration of technology and automation in the mechanical and automotive industries has made coding skills a valuable asset for engineers in these fields. Traditionally, mechanical and automotive engineering focused on the design and manufacturing of physical components. However, with the emergence of smart cars, autonomous vehicles, and complex mechatronic systems, the ability to effectively code and program has become a necessity for engineers. In this blog post, we will discuss the reasons why mechanical/automotive engineers should acquire coding skills and the benefits it brings to their careers.
With the increase in the integration of
technology and automation in the mechanical and automotive industries, there is
a growing need for engineers to learn how to write and deploy codes.
Because automotive engineering has grown
from just assembling parts, panel-beating metal sheets, and manufacturing and
designing physical components, we cannot ignore how unavoidable technology is
now.
From regular cars and commuter buses, we
now have smart cars and autonomous vehicles that run on complex mechatronic
systems. Engineers can only be able to meet this growing advancement by
learning how to code.
2. Simulation
and Analysis
Coding in automotive engineering is not
restricted to just building and development. Simulation and analysis are also
done by coding. Nowadays, before engineers set out to design and build a vehicle
they first simulate, and analyze it according to the data available to them.
The benefit of these simulations is to enable engineers to understand the behavior
of mechanical systems and plot accurate predictions for better performance.
Long gone are the days when engineers need to build physical prototypes.
Virtual prototypes with the use of simulation are a more cost-effective and
better solution.
Automotive simulation is mainly done with
software programs and tools, but to understand how it works, an automotive
engineer might need to understand coding languages like Python and packages like
MATLAB.
3. Automation
and Robotics
Automation is an integral part of modern
mechanical/automotive engineering. However, engineers need Coding skills to be
able to develop algorithms that control different systems even without manual intervention.
Some of the systems that automation
handles include the sensors, actuators, and control systems. The integration of
automation in automotive engineering has helped engineers achieve better
precision, more reliability with engine development, and improved safety with
machines. Because robotics is now the forte’ of a lot of engineers, they need to
do a lot of coding to build these autonomous and intelligent systems.
4. Interdisciplinary
Collaboration
Mechanical/automotive engineering often
involves collaboration with professionals from other disciplines, such as
electrical engineering, computer science, and data analytics. To achieve this synergy
between different industries, automotive engineers must borrow a few of the skills
that professionals in those fields need.
An automotive engineer does not necessarily
need to be as good at coding as a computer science expert or data analyst will.
However, they should know to help them communicate and collaborate effectively
with professionals from different backgrounds.
5. Career
Opportunities
The job market in the automotive industry increases
drastically as each day goes by. However, the chances of an automotive engineer
getting a job depend on how versatile they are. Some engineers make the mistake
of restricting themselves by learning only the basics of automotive engineering
without acquiring coding skills. The truth is, that an engineer’s ability to code
significantly enhances their career options.
Nowadays, most employers seek engineers
who are versatile, innovative, and competent in coding. So with the ability to
code, an engineer becomes more accessible to a wide range of job opportunities,
including roles in software development, data analysis, control systems
engineering, and robotics.
Which coding languages should mechanical engineers learn?
The coding languages that mechanical
engineers should learn include:
·
C++
·
Python
·
C
·
Java
·
C#
· Matlab
CONCLUSION
Coding shouldn’t be an entirely scary
subject for automotive engineers. You are not learning that deeply to become a
professional programmer, just enough to augment the need to integrate technology
with automotive production.
Would you love to know some places tolearn how to code?