MEC 1281 Effective Communication

 According to the article, "Soft robotic arm..." (2020), researchers from MIT constructed a soft robot that is capable of estimating its 3D configuration through its skin that is covered with sensors. Feedbacks received from the sensors are used to provide estimation for it's 3D configuration. There are two advantages the soft robot have over traditional rigid robots. Due to its soft body, it has the ability to move in infinite number of ways at any time. Secondly, it does not require additional feedback from other equipment.  However, it's ability to move without restriction resulted in increased difficulty to use it in "control" applications. In order to alleviate this problem, new robots have to undergo deep learning. Doing so, the robot will progressively be more effective in capturing meaningful feedback signals.  Lastly, the researchers aim to use better sensors and provide better deep learning methods in order to reduce the training time.   References

Dear Prof Blackstone, My name is Chin Yong Sheng, so you may also address me as Mark. I am a student in class T6 of MEC1281. I would like to use this letter to introduce myself. I graduated from Ngee Ann Polytechnic with a diploma in Aerospace Technology. Upon graduation, I ended up working under the Republic of Singapore Airforce (RSAF) for the next 5 and a half years, prior to pursuing my degree study in mechanical engineering under Singapore Institute of Technology.  Having only been in the engineering field ever since my tertiary education, I learnt to appreciate engineering more. Engineering has benefited mankind in different aspects through technology advancements leading to improvement in quality of life. Working in the RSAF has piqued my interest in engineering. My primary scope is to upkeep aircraft's serviceability through rectification works. I managed to witness and experience how the combination of mechanisms with electronics is able to bring everything together. For

 “I contend that we (engineers) are undervalued because of our widespread inability to explain what we do to the general public (and why it is so important). It is one of the hardest goals to accomplish, to be able to boil down difficult concepts into a short and easily understood presentation or elevator pitch.” -Marybeth Miceli, President, Miceli Infrastructure Consulting, USA (2011) The author of this quote agrees that engineers are undervalued mainly due to how engineers are incapable of translating their field of expertise to the general public in simple and relatable terms.  In my opinion, engineers communicate with each other using technical terms to prevent miscommunication. At times, it can be difficult to come up with layman terms as we are so used to the technical terms. More often than not, each and every engineering field requires some form of expertise before one begins to understand.