CAR TECHNOLOGY:
HISTORY, DEVELOPMENT AND ITS TYPE
INTRODUCTION
Cars
are not separated from Automotive, Automotive Engineering is one of the
branches of mechanical engineering that learns about how to design, create and
develop land transportation equipment that uses machinery, especially
motorcycles, cars, buses and trucks. Automotive engineering combines elements
of mechanical, electrical, electronic, safety and environmental knowledge as
well as mathematics, physics, chemistry, biology and management.
Branches
of automotive engineering include: Planning (Product or Design), Development
(Development), Production (Manufacturing), Maintenance (Maintenance).
Automotive Technology
In
Automotive Technology, mastering systems that have land transportation
equipment is a must. The system consists of several main systems and dozens of
subsystems. The system can be grouped: Engine (engine), internal combustion
engine, fuel system (fuel system), fuel tank, fuel pump, carburetor or fuel
injection system, ignition system (ignition system), system air intake in the
combustion chamber (intake system), combustion air exhaust system (exhaust
system), cooling system (cooling system), lubrication system (lubricating
system), wheel balance system (spooring balancing), power transfer (power
train), system transmission (transmission system), drive circuit (drive train),
transfer case (for 4 wheel drive), final drive (final drive), wheel (wheel),
steering system (steering system), suspension system (suspension system), brake
system (brake system), body, electrical system (electrical system).
HISTORY AND
DEVELOPMENT
Cars
have become a part of modern human life. The existence of a car greatly helps
human mobility when carrying out daily activities. Especially now, the model
and type of car has been very diverse. Starting from the family wagon or now
better known as sports utility vehicle (SUV), to the luxury sedan class that
gives more comfort.
The
machines offered are also very diverse. Like the 1,000-1,500 cc class for urban
cars. Or a car with engine over 2,000 cc that is widely used by cars with
four-wheel drive. But this time we will not discuss the existing car variants.
Next time we will explore the history of the car. What is the process and
development of cars from the 19th century to entering the second millennium?
Pre-1880s
Long
before other people thought of something that could bring them to another place
more youthfully, Leonardo da Vinci had made the concept of "car" in
1478. This concept had not yet used a machine and was still a sketch on paper.
CAR
(short for automobiles originating from Greek 'autos' (own) and Latin 'movére'
(moving)) are four or more wheeled vehicles carrying their own engines. Types
of cars include buses, vans, trucks. The operation of the car is called
driving.
If
what is meant by a car like now, it is quite difficult to determine who the
inventor is. The car actually consists of thousands of components that are
found and developed in stages. However, it can be mentioned that Nicolaus J.
Cugnot was the first person to successfully launch a large-body, three-wheeled
and steam engine. This vehicle was used to pull cannons in 1769.
This
image is a picture where, the vehicle created by Nicolaus J. Cugnot was
crashing into a wall. And this accident was recorded as the first car accident
in the world
The vehicle created by Nicolaus J. Cugnot
After
that another engineer who made a similar vehicle was William Murdock who worked
with James Watt from England. they succeeded in developing and launching a
steam engine in 1784.
Sketch of a steam car
Richard Trevitchick
Richard
Trevitchick also managed to make and launch a steam engine vehicle. In 1830, a
six-wheeled vehicle created by Sir Goldswarthy Gurnay was able to glide at 25km
/ h. Until the early 20th century, various steam engine vehicles continued to
be created even though steam engines were dangerous because they often
exploded.
Since
the mid-19th century, the design of cars has been growing rapidly. in 1860,
Jean Joseph E. Lenoir, from France, succeeded in creating a combustion engine
in a mixture of coal and gas and a mixture of atmospheric air. This machine
works without compression, where a mixture of fuel and air is inserted into the
cylinder when the piston is at the step, then ignited with a fire extinguisher
(spark plug), so that the gas pressure in the cylinder rises pushing the piston
to the end of the step and removing the combustion . The efficiency of this
machine is only 5% but is capable of producing power up to 6DK.
Hundreds
of years later, a motorized vehicle began to be made human. Using this steam
engine was used to help move the needs of the French military in the 1870s in
carrying war equipment. This steam engine is assisted by three drive wheels.
The speed at that time was believed to be the same as human speed when walking.
Decade of 1880
The
discovery of a diesel engine in 1882 became an important chapter in the history
of the car. Precisely in January 1882, when a diesel-fueled engine was
introduced and then widely used by the community. When first made, this diesel
engine emerged as a milestone because it was able to make a more efficient
engine in fuel use. Diesel engines continue to be developed and are still used
as one of the car's engines.
The forerunner to the 1886 car
After
that the vehicle appeared with a gasoline engine. Using three wheels as a
driver, this vehicle was created by a German engine engineer, Karl Benz in
1885.
Gottlieb Daimler and Karl Benz
Not
to be outdone, in the United States Henry Ford had built his first car in 1886.
This was the forerunner of cars in the modern era.
At
the same time a variety of new inventions have developed that improve the
performance of old machines. In 1886, Nicolaus A. Otto and Eagen Langen
succeeded in developing an atmospheric pressurized engine inserted into the
cylinder, ignited by a high pressure combustion gas which was able to push the
piston to carry out expansion steps to dispose of the combustion gas. The efficiency
obtained by this machine is 11%. Otto's machine was called a 4-step engine and
was patented in 1876
Sketch of early 19th century fuel cars
Charles E - Frank Duryea
In
1890 Charles E and Frank Duryea from the US succeeded in creating the first
gasoline engine. In 1898 Louis Renault invented the driving rod instead of a
chain that had been used to move engine power to the wheel. Three years
earlier, Renault also created a water-cooled engine. In 1911, Cadillac
Automobile Co., succeeded in creating an electric starter, electric ignition
with coils and batteries instead of the crank starter. In 1922, air-filled
rubber tires in lieu of dead tires or ankle tires were first introduced.
The car "Velo" Karl Benz (1894).
The
first car patent in the United States was given to Oliver Evans in 1789; in
1804 Evans demonstrated his first car, which was not only the first car in the
US but was also the first amphibious vehicle, whose steam-powered vehicles were
able to travel on land using wheels and in water using padel wheels.
Generally
the first car combustion engine that used gasoline was made almost
simultaneously in 1886 by a German inventor who worked separately. Carl Benz on
July 3, 1886 in Mannheim, and Gottlieb Daimler and Wilhelm Maybach in Stuttgart.
On
November 5, 1895, George B. Selden was given a US patent for a two-stroke car
engine. This patent has a negative impact on the development of the car
industry in the US. A spectacular breakthrough was carried out by Berta Benz in
1888. Steam, electricity, and gasoline engines competed for decades, with
gasoline combustion engines gaining dominance in the 1910s.
Large-scale
production lines of car manufacturing at affordable prices were carried out by
Oldsmobil in 1902, and then developed by Henry Ford in the 1910s. In the period
from 1900 to the mid-1920s the development of automotive technology was very
fast, due to the large number (hundreds) of small car makers who all competed
to grab the world's attention.
Major
developments included electronic ignition and electronic self-starter (both by
Charles Kettering, for the Cadillac Car Company in 1910-1911), independent
suspension, and four-tire brakes.
Decade of 1900
In
the early 20th century, simple cars that had been created began to undergo evolution.
When it was first introduced, the car at that time had not used the steering
wheel as we know it today.
Before
1900, the car's steering wheel was only half circle. Some even use a kind of
stick to move the front wheel to the right and left. After 1900, the steering
wheel began to be used and indeed made it easier for the car to move.
Henry Ford's first car
The
speed of the car has also begun to increase. Can reach 15-20 km / hour. It's
faster than the speed of people walking around 6 km / hour. That's why the
state of Alabama, United States, limits the maximum speed of the car at that
time to only 12 km / hour.
In
this era Ford began to introduce the phenomenal Model T. Thanks to the help of
the engine, the process of making this car sped from 7.5 units / hour to 146
units / hour.
In
1913 the first hybrid engine was born in the world. Is Ferdinand Porsche who
invented a hybrid engine that was named Lohne-Porsche Mixte Hybrid. The age of
Porsche when he discovered this machine was only 18 years old.
Decade of 1920
In
this decade, cars have begun to become part of human life. In fact it has
become an industry that continues to grow along with the emergence of new
inventions related to cars.
The Duesenberg car in 1920
In
the United States even many industries have sprung up that create cars from
small scale to large scale. However, it seems that only those with large
capital can survive. Of the 253 vehicle industries in 1908, the number only
remained 44 in 1929. Of that amount, 80 percent of the market was controlled by
Ford, General Motors, and Chrysler. In this decade, car radio was introduced.
So that the car owner no longer feels lonely when driving alone.
The Ford Model T is one of the first affordable cars for
consumers (1927).
In
the 1930s, most technologies in automotive were created, although they were
often recreated later and given credit to others. For example, the front-wheel
drive was recreated by Andre Citroën during the launch of the Traction Avant in
1934, even though this technology had appeared several years earlier in cars
made by Alvis and Cord, and in racing cars by Miller (and probably appeared as
early as 1897 )
After
1930, the number of car manufacturers declined drastically with the industry
joining each other and maturing. Since 1960, the number of producers has almost
remained, and innovation has diminished. In many ways, new technology is only
an improvement over previous technology. With the exception of the invention of
engine management, which entered the market in the 1960s, when electronic goods
became cheap enough for mass production and strong enough to handle the rough
environment in cars. Developed by Bosch, this electronic device can reduce car
exhaust drastically while increasing efficiency and power.
Decade of 1940
In
the mid-20th century, the condition of the world was hit by war. The automotive
industry was affected. They became the focus of creating vehicles that could
benefit on the battlefield.
Military Jeep in the 1940s
One
of the most important inventions in this decade is a vehicle with a four-wheel
drive (four wheel drive). This vehicle is very suitable for use in battlefields
that have uneven ground conditions. This military vehicle has a fairly high
speed despite having to explore contoured areas up and down. Today, people know
him as the Jeep.
Decade of 1950
After
world war was over, automotive manufacturers could again develop the technology
they had at that time. The engine with injection technology appeared in January
1951. The first car to use this injesi engine was the Gutbrod Superior and
Goliath GP 700 E sports coupe. Both of these cars were officially marketed to
the public and received quite a positive response.
Goliath GP 700 E
Beginning
in 1956, new technology was discovered again. This time a prototype of a
catalytic converter was started. This is the impact of public anxiety at that
time on the amount of carbon dioxide which continues to increase as the growth
in the number of vehicles is increasing.
However,
the technology by Eugene Houdry was still limited to testing and applied to
gasoline engines. But, this idea is arguably far ahead of the technology that
developed at that time.
Decade of 1960
The
history of cars enters a more advanced era. Cars have become increasingly
popular with more compact and functional designs.
1960 VW Beetle
This
can not be separated from the influence of the presence of a VW Beetle that has
an unusual design and is ordained as a people's car. The VW Beetle inspired the
emergence of the Corolla, Civic, and Focus series which are pioneer cars with a
simpler and less large design. Since then, car manufacturers have begun
competing to create more simple vehicles.
Decade of 1970
The
safety side of passengers in vehicles was introduced in this decade. Starting
with the emergence of airbag technology in 1974. Coupled with a seat belt that
can help passengers avoid severe injury when experiencing an accident.
Wagon 1970
This
can not be separated from the speed of the car that continues to grow high. The
machines used have greater capacity which has an impact with a higher maximum
speed.
It
was proven in 1970, a special engine vehicle capable of racing up to 1,000 km /
hour. The vehicle named "Blue Flame" was consecrated as the fastest
vehicle on earth during a test in Padang Garam Bonneville, Utah, United States.
Decades 1980 and
1990
After
the United States had ruled the world automotive a few decades, starting in
1980, there were heavy competitors. Japan which was devastated by the war has
started to rise again. Japanese brands like Honda and Toyota have even been
able to penetrate the United States market. Japanese manufacturers offer
different vehicles from Uncle Sam's country products, so that they attract the
interest of the people there.
The Toyota Prius 1997
The
technology developed was able to compete with US and European production cars.
Like when Toyota for the first time introduced the phenomenal Toyota Prius in
1997. The Toyota Prius became the first hybrid car in the world. This car is
the inspiration for future technology cars produced decades later.
Decade of 2000
The
history of cars continues to develop positively in the second millennium. A
number of the latest technologies have emerged. Everything aims to create a
vehicle that is more efficient and environmentally friendly.
Honda FCX Clarity 2007
The
desire to create environmentally friendly vehicles seen when Peugeot was able
to make the government and automotive manufacturers in Europe began to use
filters in car engines. The use of this filter eventually became a necessity
for all European-produced cars for the health of its users. Honda did not want
to lose. In 2007 the Japanese manufacturer began producing environmentally
friendly hydrogen-fueled cars. This Honda production car is named FCX Clarity.
Future
Fuel-efficient
and environmentally friendly engines are the focus of every automotive
manufacturer in the world. Although it is still limited to the scale of the
prototype, manufacturers show their seriousness about the impact of the
increasing amount of CO2 on the face of the earth. As VW showed up when
introducing their fuel-efficient vehicle prototype in March 2013. At that time,
VW showed that their cars that were able to travel 100 km were enough with 1
liter of gasoline.
In
the world of Formula 1 racing vehicles are also being introduced by using
battery power. The FIA as the world car racing authority has started holding
this electric car racing event in 2014. The plan is that in 2018 formula car
racing will begin with electric-powered engines.
The
most advanced technology today is developed by Tesla. This manufacturer created
an autonomous car like an airplane in autopilot mode. Although a lot of
criticism, but the public interest in this autonomous car turned out to be
quite large.
Ferrari cars
Future car
Closing
Such
is the history of the car for more than a century. It all began with a small
discovery that continued to be developed to finally create a car that could be
useful for human life.
Certainly
the latest technologies and findings will emerge in the world of automotive.
Everything aims to make human life easier and of course without forgetting a
clean, safe, orderly and healthy environment.
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