How Artificial Intelligence Impact Engineering

Swetha
9 min readNov 20, 2019

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Artificial intelligence has been a popular feature in science fiction for years. Since the early days of computing, scientists and other thinkers have been fascinated by the idea of ​​creating a machine capable of replicating the human brain. The analogy of the human brain is that the computer is supposed to run deep. However, we know that the image is so complex that the way the brain works is beyond the normal computer.

We do not yet fully understand how consciousness arises in the human brain, and there is still much debate on whether consciousness can be separated from an advanced intelligence. But artificial intelligence does not have to be this complicated; We see very simple examples of what we describe as artificial intelligence on a regular basis. Pre-installed voice assistants are just one example of every modern smartphone, and now these same AIs are integrated into alarm clocks and speakers, enabling them to control a variety of smart devices around the home.

Artificial intelligence is increasingly entering industrial and manufacturing contexts. AIs are also being used to perform high-frequency trading in the stock market. AIs are everywhere now, which means it’s easy to forget just how amazingly complex they are. AIs have a lot to offer the engineering world. The most exciting current and prospective uses of artificial intelligence are in the field of engineering.

What is Artificial Intelligence?

The term was first used in 1956 at a meeting at Dartmouth College. However, although artificial intelligence has long been considered and discussed in an abstract, theoretical sense, we have only started using it in the last decade. Technology. It is now so ubiquitous in our daily lives that it is easy to forget what it is to understand the complex display of technological prowess and artificial intelligence.

In answering the question of what is artificial intelligence, and what is the meaning of the term today, we need to think about what intelligence is. It is not as easy as many think. For example, do you think all animals are intelligent? Or, to have intelligence?

Some animals, such as cats, octopuses and dolphins, exhibit a higher level of intelligence than others. When comparing two different animals, such as a rat and a gorilla, there are many ways scientists can measure their relative intelligence. But it is difficult to objectively define and measure intelligence.

AIs used in the engineering field combine software and hardware components. Think about the robots in the car assembly line and the software that controls them. They are excellent feats of engineering among themselves, but are they intelligent?

You may be surprised to learn how smart and sophisticated our uses of artificial intelligence are in engineering. Smart product lines are definitely the future. How does Artificial Intelligence make such a big difference in the field of engineering?

Manufacturing

The rise of artificial intelligence allows us to develop more complex manufacturing, and design, machines that can perform tasks. Machines that can learn and improve without human intervention are the ultimate goal, and it requires considerable and foresight. Yet, in our pursuit of creating more powerful AIs, we are finding information about how our own brains work and how we approach the learning process consciously and unconsciously.

Many engineers fear that their jobs will soon be taken over by sophisticated robots. As our manufacturing and design capabilities continue to expand, we have been able to build machines capable of replicating everything a human being can do in one assembly line. These fears are then unfounded, as automation continues to take jobs from many different areas of people.

Things are not entirely clear, however, as a Stanford University study notes that the One Hundred Year Study of Artificial Intelligence, poses no threat to workers. Although artificial intelligence has a significant impact on jobs, the study argues that it is balanced by many other positive effects on society.

A major example of the use of artificial intelligence in engineering is in the automobile industry.

The combination of software and hardware that entered the manufacturing line has gradually become more sophisticated over the years. Initially, these robots were doing simple engineering tasks involving relatively large parts and movements. Today, they have the ability to simulate precise movements and the most difficult parts of the process.

Big data

It does not make sense to say that we are now living in the data age. Data is an object unlike other objects known to the world. It can be very valuable financially, but it can be used directly to give the business a huge edge over competition.

Artificial intelligence, especially in its most sophisticated implementation, relies heavily on large data sets and algorithmic learning.

One of the most exciting applications of artificial intelligence in the field of engineering is machine learning. Machine learning is based on consistent generation and analysis of data. Through this process, an artificial intelligence is able to learn by collecting and analyzing data extensively about performance. If the program is equipped with the right algorithms to detect mistakes and create solutions, it can perform a process and continually improve it.

For engineers working on large-scale public projects, big data is the core of their work. For big data analytics researchers, with unprecedented detail, the influx of people into urban environments with its concentration. This means that public infrastructure decisions are based on objective scientific analysis.

Also, in the context of engineering for public works, big data can be used to analyze how well some solutions work when implemented elsewhere. Big data also allows for an objective and detailed comparison of how similar the current environment is to those used earlier. This is easy when using big data analytics techniques, but it can be a long and expensive process to complete otherwise.

Machine Learning

One of the most important technical concepts for the future of artificial intelligence-led engineering is machine learning. Machine learning is the study of how machines learn. The ultimate goal of artificial intelligence is not to have machines that can learn, but to have machines capable of self-analysis. Such a machine can assess the efficiency of its learning methods and improve its processes to a much greater degree.

What are the practical applications of machine learning? Well, imagine if you had a small camera in every robotic arm you see putting cars together. You can see the work of previous robots along each arm assembly line. If they find a problem they can create a solution.

We already have the technology to fulfill the first part. We can take high-resolution video of a half-assembled car and develop algorithms to determine if there are obvious flaws. Robots can respond to a mistake based on what they ‘see’.

Machine learning takes this process to the next level. With machine learning, all the robots involved in the production can pool together the data collected. With central artificial intelligence to control everything, you can find out what problems are most likely. With machine learning, central artificial intelligence can create solutions to problems without having to follow pre-defined routines.

Natural language processing

Natural language processing is a field of study dedicated to improving the communication ability of humans and machines. In particular, it aims to improve the sophistication of responding to the human voice with natural language processing machines. Similar to machine learning, natural language processing makes great use of large data sets and algorithm-based learning.

Think of the voice assistant on your smartphone. If you own smartphones in the last decade or more, you will notice how much they have improved the accuracy of hearing and transcribing our voices. Even if your phone can detect the words you say, it is not the same as understanding.

Right now, your phone is looking for a few keywords and it understands what you’re asking to do based on context. It responds to or does the action and sometimes hears the response. The goal is to improve the process by allowing the machine to develop a deeper understanding of natural language processing language. If this understanding is sufficiently refined, the machine will be able to absorb what anyone wants when it is presented with a completely new command or request.

In the Iron Man films, Tony Stark is able to have long conversations with Jarvis, an artificial intelligence, with his house assistant. When Tony is designing his Iron Man suits, he has conversations with Jarvis, and Jarvis can make schematics according to the specifications that Tony expresses in his usual conversational language. It sounds like pure sci-fi, though researchers hope to take the field someday.

For example, if an engineer is trying to work out how to reinforce a certain feature in their design, wouldn’t it be great if they could ask their computer? Or in the case of the assembly line, imagine if the human supervisor could give feedback to the robots. They may ask the robots to do their roles a little bit differently, make adjustments, or try new things and analyze the result.

While these applications are some distance away, we still have much to learn about machine learning. However, we have already made some significant progress in recent years.

Image Processing

What do you think can be done with image processing engineering? The connection may not be immediately obvious, but it is vital for the engineering field to deploy artificial intelligence to its full potential.

This is because when humans see an object, light enters the eye and converts it into an electrical signal. This signal is carried to the brain by the optic nerve. The brain converts this electronic signal into a picture, which we ‘see’.

The machines work very similarly. We can set up the camera to record the image and we can display this image to the user. However, this is not the same as the machine that understands the picture. With image processing algorithms, machines can analyze what they see and respond accordingly. From an engineering standpoint, this means that we may have machines that can detect structural abnormalities and other problems that have noticeable visible signs.

This type of image processing technology can also make a significant difference to the safety of engineers’ workplace. There may often be visual evidence indicating structural defects and weaknesses that are not immediately apparent until the structure fails. By combining image processing with data input from other sensors, artificial intelligence can be used in a variety of contexts. For example, in both construction sites and fire scenarios, structural integrity is a concern. Having engineers have a more reliable way to evaluate integrity can save lives.

Internet of Things

Connecting with so many other people with you means staying at home. Once you log out, there is no 3G or 4G network for internet browsing. In the end, a very slow and expensive mobile Internet came in the form of WAP.

Today, it is the habit of flying large volumes of data through the air waves around us. As smart devices become more common in our homes, we are also beginning to see the practical ability to connect devices to one another.

The Internet of Things refers to an ot hostile network, which connects everyday devices and objects to one another, as well as the Internet connecting computers around the world. Allowing the various devices in our life to collect and share data opens up some exciting new possibilities.

As the Internet of Things gradually becomes a reality, it becomes something engineers consider in the design process. As the Internet of Things becomes reality, the virtually endless ways in which we can connect devices and work together allow new and innovative solutions to many problems.

Jobs

Discussions on the impact of artificial intelligence engineering are not complete without mentioning the impact of automation on jobs. In many cases, there are widespread fears and concerns surrounding automation. When machines start replacing humans in some jobs, there are concerns that we may not need to hire people in the end.
Accept that the threat to jobs is very real, in some areas it can have a significant impact on communities. However, most researchers agree that the long-term benefits of automation outweigh the potential drawbacks.

In the case of engineers in particular, artificial intelligence is opening up some exciting new horizons for the sector. These new opportunities must be embraced. It is important to realize that these advances can make a huge difference in our ability to solve the biggest problems facing our civilization.

Al leverages blockchain and cryptocurrency tech

The Magnus Collective is an excellent example of how the innovative use of AI affects cryptocurrencies and blockchain technology. They have a decentralized network of AIs, including sensors, hardware, computers, robots and humans. This is a hybrid token, which may be an evolution of the ICO concept.

Artificial intelligence has impacted every potential industry and field, and engineering itself is no exception. The diverse applications of artificial intelligence are of considerable use to engineers. Artificial intelligence has many roles, ranging from allowing for more intuitive and innovative interactions with software and machines, to tracking the work of engineers and other machines.

As our methods of collecting large data sets of analytics have been improved, we will be able to unlock the full potential of big data and algorithmic learning. We have always understood that these two concepts yield impressive results, but the transformative nature of both of them in engineering proves that they are more powerful than we once thought.

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