Landmark Revolutionary Inventions in Mechanical Engineering

Abstract

In this chapter, important inventions in mechanical engineering since the advent of human civilization are discussed. The emphasis is on those inventions, which had long-lasting effect on the human civilization. Notable among them are wheel, cutting tool, internal combustion engine, railway, aircraft, refrigeration, and air-conditioning. These revolutionary inventions are still in use and have been undergoing through evolutionary changes. Inventions such as steam engine and Wootz steel are no longer used in the original form. Nevertheless, these inventions have paved the way for future inventions. The underlying principles of these inventions are also briefly described.