Electrical engineering
Electrical engineering is an engineering discipline concerned with the study, design, and application of equipment, devices, and systems that use electricity, electronics, and electromagnetism. It emerged as an identifiable occupation in the latter half of the 19th century after the commercialization of the electric telegraph, the telephone, and electrical power generation, distribution, and use.
Electrical engineering is divided into a wide range of different fields, including computer engineering, systems engineering, power engineering, telecommunications, radio-frequency engineering, signal processing, instrumentation, control engineering, photovoltaic cells, electronics, and optics and photonics. Many of these disciplines overlap with other engineering branches, spanning a huge number of specializations including hardware engineering, power electronics, electromagnetics and waves, microwave engineering, nanotechnology, electrochemistry, renewable energies, mechatronics/control, and electrical materials science. Electrical engineers also study machine learning and computer science techniques due to significant overlap.
Electrical engineers typically hold a degree in electrical engineering, electronic or electrical and electronic engineering. Practicing engineers may have professional certification and be members of a professional body or an international standards organization. These include the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC), the National Society of Professional Engineers (NSPE), the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) and the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET, formerly the IEE).
Electrical engineers work in a very wide range of industries and the skills required are likewise variable. These range from circuit theory to the management skills of a project manager. The tools and equipment that an individual engineer may need are similarly variable, ranging from a simple voltmeter to sophisticated design and manufacturing software.
Electrical engineering is the field that designs, develops, and tests electrical systems and equipment, ranging from small electronics to large power grids. An electrical engineer’s work involves a wide range of specializations, such as power generation, telecommunications, control systems, and electronics design, and can be found in diverse industries like technology, construction, and energy. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]
What electrical engineers do
- Design, develop, test, and supervise the manufacturing of electrical equipment, such as motors, radar systems, and power generation equipment. [1, 6]
- Work on both large-scale and small-scale projects, from power grids and communication systems to car transmissions and household appliances. [1, 2]
- Analyze customer feedback, conduct calculations, and assess issues to propose effective solutions. [6]
- Collaborate with project managers and other team members to ensure projects are completed on time and within budget. [6, 7]
Areas of specialization
- Power Engineering: Focuses on power generation, transmission, and distribution to ensure a reliable and efficient supply of electricity. [4]
- Telecommunications: Designs and improves communication systems like wireless networks and satellite communication. [4]
- Electronics Design: Develops electronic circuits and devices, including consumer electronics, medical equipment, and components for vehicles. [4, 8]
- Control Systems Engineering: Specializes in the design and maintenance of control systems for industrial processes and automation. [4, 9]
- Renewable Energy: Works on the integration and optimization of renewable energy sources like solar and wind power. [2, 4]
- Signal Processing: Analyzes and manipulates signals for applications like audio, video, and sensor data. [4]
Industries and careers
- Industries: Electrical engineers are employed in numerous industries, including electric power generation and distribution, telecommunications, automotive, aerospace, and research and development. [1, 6, 8, 10]
- Career paths: Opportunities include becoming an electronics design engineer, systems engineer, project manager, or a specialist in a specific area like power systems or signal processing. [7, 11]
AI responses may include mistakes.
[1] https://www.bls.gov/ooh/architecture-and-engineering/electrical-and-electronics-engineers.htm
[2] https://www.coursera.org/articles/electrical-engineer
[3] wikipedia/en/Electrical_engineering
[5] https://www.edx.org/learn/electrical-engineering
[6] https://www.snhu.edu/about-us/newsroom/stem/what-do-electrical-engineers-do
[7] https://www.coursera.org/browse/physical-science-and-engineering/electrical-engineering
[8] https://www.mtu.edu/ece/undergraduate/electrical/what-is/
[9] https://online-distance.ncsu.edu/career/electrical-controls-engineer/
Not all images can be exported from Search.
The history of electrical engineering is marked by pivotal scientific discoveries and technological inventions, formalizing into a discipline in the late 1800s. Key milestones include the invention of the battery by Volta, Faraday’s discovery of electromagnetic induction, and Maxwell’s equations unifying electricity and magnetism. The field later saw the development of the AC power system by Tesla, the light bulb by Edison, and the transistor in the 20th century, which paved the way for modern electronics. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6]
Early discoveries and foundations
- Ancient observations: Humans have known about electricity from the shocks of certain fish since at least 2750 BCE. [7]
- 17th-18th centuries: William Gilbert is credited with pioneering studies of electricity and magnetism, and Steven Gray discovered electrical conduction. [8]
- 1800: Alessandro Volta invented the first electric battery, the voltaic pile, providing a steady source of current. [3, 4]
- 1831: Michael Faraday discovered electromagnetic induction, the principle behind generators and transformers. [3]
- 1865: James Clerk Maxwell published his equations, which mathematically unified electricity, magnetism, and light, laying the groundwork for electromagnetism. [3, 9]
Formalization and key 19th-century developments
- Late 1800s: Electrical engineering emerged as a distinct field with the establishment of the first School of Electrical Engineering in 1883 and the formation of the American Institute of Electrical Engineers in 1884. [1, 10, 11]
- 1879: Thomas Edison invented the first practical incandescent light bulb. [3, 5]
- 1880s: Nikola Tesla developed the AC motor and transformer, enabling efficient long-distance electricity transmission and the creation of modern power grids. [3, 5]
- 1888: Heinrich Hertz proved the existence of electromagnetic waves, demonstrating the validity of Maxwell’s theories and paving the way for radio. [12]
20th-century advancements and sub-disciplines
- Early 1900s: John Fleming invented the first radio tube (the diode) in 1904, and Reginald Fessenden made the first radio broadcast of voice in 1906. [13]
- 1940s: World War II spurred advancements in radar and led to the invention of the magnetron. [13]
- 1947: William Shockley, John Bardeen, and Walter Brattain invented the transistor at Bell Labs, which would replace the vacuum tube. [6]
- 1959: The integrated circuit chip and the MOSFET transistor were invented, revolutionizing electronics. [11]
- 1960s: Electronics engineering became a distinct university degree subject, separate from electrical engineering. [11]
Modern era
- 1963: The American Institute of Electrical Engineers and the Institute of Radio Engineers merged to form the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), the world’s largest professional technical organization. [10]
- Late 20th Century and beyond: The field continued to diversify into sub-disciplines like power systems, control systems, telecommunications, and signal processing, developing key technologies like computers and the internet. [1, 2, 11]
AI responses may include mistakes.
[2] https://study.com/academy/lesson/electrical-engineering-overview-examples.html
[7] https://www.v-hr.com/blog/history-of-engineering-electricity/
[10] https://newengineer.com/blog/the-history-of-electrical-engineering-1508492
[11] wikipedia/en/History_of_electronic_engineering