Some problems are so simple that an average group of

engineers with the relevant knowledge can solve them In your Project this term
by brainstorming. However, some are much harder and you will have to find
different possible
we need to apply the relevant processes and techniques solutions to it.
for technical problem solving to deal with them. To help you think about
possible problems, we
would like you to start
Altshuller1 researched engineering problems and their reading about
Contemporary
solutions and categorized them into five levels of Engineering Challenges
difficulty. When he examined published patents he (these problems refer
mainly to the USA or to
established that the problems solved in Levels One global issues -
and Two, about 77% of problems, offer fairly simple, problems). These are
problems at a national
obvious, predictable answers, and only need company scale. You can think of
problems at a smaller
and industry knowledge to find solutions. He said that scale, design problems,
these patents were almost trivial and could be written by technical problems, cost
problems, etc.
any engineer, with the help of the very simple and
In this class you may
accessible required knowledge. work with problems on
The other patents, in Levels Three, Four and Five initially any level.
do not have obvious and easily found solutions, and have
therefore mobilized much inventive creativity and
accessed a wide range of knowledge.

1
Genrikh Saulovich Altshuller, was a Soviet engineer, inventor, and writer. He is most notable for the creation of
the Theory of Inventive Problem Solving, better known by its Russia acronym TRIZ. (Wikipedia)
1-Read the text below and summarize the problem in your own words.

One example of Level Four success might include the step change development of
rechargeable lithium batteries which are an important technology for new energy
sources. Searches for smart and efficient energy storage is key to harvesting and
using energy more effectively. Research into the development of rechargeable
lithium batteries is seeking to deliver significant increases in energy and power
density. Such batteries store electricity from renewable sources to power portable
devices such as laptop computers, mobile phones, electric cars and bikes etc. One
requirement is to greatly improve both the recharge and discharge rates especially
for applications such as electric cars where fast recharge is a significant benefit.

In Korea Professor Cho Jae - Phil and his team have replaced the graphite in lithium
batteries with a certain kind of silicon to store eight times the power.
At St Andrews University in Scotland, Professor Peter Bruce and his team in
Chemistry have created rechargeable lithium batteries using oxygen as a readily
available infinite and renewable resource. This represents a step change in the
The text is about making rechargeable lithium batteries better. These batteries store energy
whole technology as LiCoO2 electrodes are replaced by a porous carbon electrode
from renewable sources and power things like phones, laptops, and electric cars. Researchers
are trying
which to make
allows Li + these
and ebatteries
- in thecharge
cell toand discharge
react faster. Scientists
with oxygen in the air.inThis
Korea and
reduces cost
Scotland are working on ways to store more energy by using silicon instead of graphite and
while
using giving a the
oxygen in tenbatteries.
– fold increase in energy storage capacity. In the USA at MIT,
Byoungwoo Kang and Gerbrand Ceder have also
developed materials for a high - power battery and created a lithium - based ‘super
battery’ which releases its charge 100 times faster than previous batteries.
 Reading -
2-Match these problems (1-5) with their descriptions (A-E) Identifying
problems
1- Making more efficient Covid-19 Face A- Early on, cars only had a few
Masks. lighting spots with limited
functions (lighting in the trunk
and the glove compartment). This activity

C Years later, new lighting spots

and functions have been
added. In fact, today, lighting
must be both functional and
is to help
you
thinking
about
problems
start

serve as ambient/mood related to

lighting in the car interior. different
Lighting must inform the branches of
passengers, help them engineering
communicate, and make them .
feel positive emotions.
Along with these changes,
lighting technologies have also
evolved (LED technologies,
and others).
Lighting today must enable
living, working, or relaxing
inside the vehicle. It must also
be more personal and
customizable, even adaptable
depending on the external
weather conditions, using
different sensors and
technologies.

2-Finding alternatives to traditional cooling B- Due to the current

systems. pandemic caused by the fast
spreading of the COVID-19,
there is an increasing need of

E ventilators for the most serious

cases.
Current ventilator models are
complex and costly, and the
number of manufacturers is
limited. Therefore, it is not
 possible to supply the needed
amount in the short-term.

C- In today’s market, there are

3- Applying the latest technical available masks with different
developments in interior automobile levels of protection according to
design. their filtration characteristics. N95,
FFP2 and FFP3 are the mask
models that offer a higher degree
of protection against COVID-19

A although not completely (the virus

is too small). However, these are
very uncomfortable to wear since
they make breathing difficult and
are too warm.
For this reason, some workers end
up not using the masks all the time
or, even worse, not using them.
Another problem is that most of
the masks are disposable, which
generates a great amount of
waste.
4-Speedy manufacturing of efficient D- Smart manufacturing requires
instruments. the greatest amount of
information about the products
throughout the entire production
process and how the variables
affect the final product and the
behavior of the process itself.

D Traditional methods don´t

consider specific factors for this
industry like: direct contact with
chemical agents such
adhesives, high pressures, sudden
as

movements, industrial
environments, with the presence
of machinery, and storage.
5-Innovative traceability methods. E- For decades, the cooling of car
interiors could be controlled
through the HVAC (Heat,
Ventilation and Air-Conditioning),

B compressed gas, and air flow.

Although this solution
widespread, the current and
future challenges
automotive industry show the
of
is

the

limitations and weaknesses of this

system. Energy, thermal control,
 and environmental factors should
be taken into account.

The walls need painting.

The lamp shade needs replacing.
OR
OR
The walls need to be painted.
The lamp shade needs to be replaced.

The rug needs cleaning. The wastebasket needs emptying.

OR OR
The rug needs to be cleaned. The wastebasket needs to be emptied.

The ceiling fan needs adjusting.

The windows need washing.
OR
OR
The ceiling fan needs to be adjusted.
The windows need to be washed.
The plant needs watering.
The clothes need picking up.
OR
OR
The plant needs to be watered.
The clothes need to be picked up.
 It keeps flickering.

It keeps skipping.
It keeps dying.
They keep sticking.
It keeps crashing.
It keeps jamming.
It keeps freezing.
They keep dropping.

Verbo (en -ing)Significado en español

flickeringparpadear (encenderse y apagarse)
skippingsaltarse partes (como escenas)
dyingapagarse, quedarse sin batería
stickingtrabarse, quedarse atascado
crashingcolapsar (cerrarse el sistema)
jammingtrabarse (como una impresora)
freezingcongelarse (dejar de responder)
droppingcortarse (una llamada, por ejemplo)
 The dishwasher doesn’t work.
The motor needs to be checked. /
The motor needs checking.

The DVD is stuck in the player.

The DVD needs to be removed. /
The DVD needs removing.

The wire in the speakers is

damaged.
The wire needs to be repaired. /
The wire needs repairing.

The TV screen is cracked.

The screen needs to be replaced.
/ The screen needs replacing.

The stove’s metal door is

Activity: scratched.
Listening The door needs to be repainted. /
The door needs repainting.
Now, watch this video; concentrate on the problems only. The first time, listen without
The table legs are loose.
captions (subtítulos); then, click CC and you will see the captions. The legs need to be tightened
and glued. / The legs need
tightening and gluing.
This man is talking about things that need repairing in this apartment.
the problems you identify.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qIm4XDh5wzI#action=share

1. Room 12 needs work.

2. Room 20 really needs work.
3. The floorboard is loose.
4. The room is too hot when they go
in.
5. The window is stuck.
6. The air conditioning dial is broken.
7. The window needs to be fixed.
8. The telephone is broken.
9. The heating needs to be checked.
10. The paint is cracked.
11. The nightstand /bedside table is dirty.
Transitions in paragraphs
Source: Grand Valley State University. Retrieved from
https://www.gvsu.edu/cms4/asset/CC3BFEEB-C364-E1A1-
A5390F221AC0FD2D/transition_merged(2).pdf

Consider these two short passages. Which do you think is better? Why?

Passage A: Some astonishing questions about the nature of the universe have
been raised by scientists studying black holes in space. The collapse of a dead
star into a point perhaps no larger than a marble creates a black hole. So much
matter compressed into so little volume changes the fabric of space around it in
puzzling ways.

Passage B: Some astonishing questions about the nature of the universe have
been raised by scientists studying black holes in space. A black hole is created
by the collapse of a dead star into a point perhaps no larger than a marble. So
much matter compressed into so little volume changes the fabric of space
around it in puzzling ways.
 Categorize these transitions into the different columns.

Transitions

a- also, in the same way, likewise, similarly, etc…

b- although, but, conversely, however, in contrast, nevertheless, nonetheless, on the
contrary, otherwise, still, yet, on the other hand, etc…
c-First, second (etc), then, next, finally, after, immediately, in the meantime, later, in the
past, now, since, then, while, meanwhile, at last, etc…
d- for example, for instance, in particular, above all, that is, likewise, formerly,
specifically, to illustrate, more importantly, etc…
e- consequently, as a result, because, accordingly, for, so, then, hence, therefore, thus,
etc…
f- consequently, in any event, in other words, to sum up, that is, therefore, etc…

To show To give To To show To compare To

passage of more conclude cause and contrast
time specific an idea effect
details to
illustrate a
larger idea

Let´s get local.

Infrastructure in Bahia Blanca. What needs to be done? Consider the events in
December 2023
 Useful Language
Bike lanes/ways need to be wider
Bike lanes need to be expanded/ widened
Install / Fix / repair / Change / Add / Paint
Finish
Railings / flower pots

After the storm in December 2023, Bahía Blanca needs to improve its infrastructure. Bike lanes must
be wider and safer. The city should repair them, finish them, and paint the faded ones. It is also
necessary to fix the drainage system to avoid floods. Some pipes are broken and water leaks need to
be repaired. Railings, sidewalks, and flower pots were damaged and must be replaced. Also, there
are unfinished works that need to be completed. The city must be ready for bad weather in the future.