The Future of Electrical Engineering
As electrical engineers continue to keep society moving forward, we are responsible for accepting and working with whatever developments get thrown our way.
This could be dictated by technology, regulation, or simply the demands of a growing society.
At Fimcen, we’re constantly consulting with clients to understand where their needs are heading and keeping an eye on new opportunities to increase efficiency.
While AutoCAD drafting (and digital CAD software in general) remains to be one of the biggest developments in electrical engineering, there are sure to be new and improved solutions on the horizon.
So, let’s discuss exactly what is coming our way and how we can harness it to improve society.
But First, the State of Electrical Engineering
Recent revelations in and around our field have included 5G mobile networks, smart home pods, virtual reality, artificial intelligence, and larger, more efficient solar power arrays.
These achievements have been huge feats of security, privacy, latency, and power reliability, but they have been achieved nonetheless.
Alas, progress begets progress and these developments only lead people to ask “what’s next?” – such is the nature of electrical engineering.
Wireless Power Transfers
You may have seen the odd phone charger in a new car or at someone’s home which simply requires surface contact with the phone. It feels like the future has arrived when your phone lights up and charges without the need for cords and cables.
Well, this is only the tip of the iceberg in wireless power transfer and the future is sure to hold plenty more amazing uses for this invention.
Consider, for example, a world where electric vehicles can be charged through the road as they drive, without the need to park and plug in.
Or perhaps you’re camping off the grid and there’s not a power socket in sight when your phone dies. Of course, there are portable chargers available to avoid this situation, but wireless power transfer solutions can become a viable second option. Perhaps they could be permanently installed at public campsites? The possibilities are vast.
Widespread Power Distribution
Wireless power transfer solutions could even be adapted on a broader scale, allowing homes and businesses to power themselves using portable batteries and cordless adapters.
In other grid-related engineering, smart grids are becoming a hot topic – where the flow of electricity is monitored and managed from provider to consumer. This reduces waste and allows for greater efficiency, costs, and reliability.
Similarly, microgrids have been suggested as a solution to reduce carbon emissions across society. These are effectively self-contained power sources that provide electricity to a small community. This could be installed on a street-by-street basis, with each ‘community’ managing its own solar array, where power is shared and distributed across the cohort.
While the logistics and politics surrounding microgrids may seem fanciful, these are the kinds of solutions that may come to be necessary and commonplace in the future. If this becomes so, electrical engineers will need to be ready to devise such solutions.
Electric Vehicles
Easily one of the most prominent, if not most talked about electrical engineering topics is the question of electric vehicle infrastructure.
This minefield of charging stations, battery storage, and environmental regulation makes the subject all the more important for electrical engineers who are relied upon to set up society for success.
By 2030, the International Energy Agency predicts that 60% of all vehicles sold globally will be electric.
Of course, besides the vehicles themselves, this will require the installation of highly-regulated charging stations – in car parks, homes, businesses, petrol stations, and wherever else you’re parking for prolonged periods.
It will be up to electrical engineers to come up with the most efficient solution to these impending problems and Fimcen continues to consult with clients to solve their infrastructural issues.
Need to Know More?
We offer electrical drafting, design and consultation to help deliver your unique projects. If you’re uncertain about how to deliver your next electrical project, please get in touch with our friendly team.