Summary draft 1

 According to an article by Chris (2020), MIT researchers have found a way to program soft robotic arm to understand its structure in 3D space, using "motion and position data from its own "sensorized skin". 

These soft robots are built from highly flexible materials, alike to "those found in living organisms", are supported as "safer, and more adaptable, resilient and bio-inspired alternatives to traditional rigid robots". 

The researchers narrate it as a system of soft sensors that wrap over the robot's body, that feedback to the internal AI to provide the robot "awareness of motion and position of its body" 

The article mention, their future goal is to advance artificial limbs, to be skillful to grip and operate objects in the environment, and also to incorporate body sensors in robotics.

References:

Rob.M. (2020). Soft robotic arm uses flexible sensors to understand its position. Retrieved from https://www.controleng.com/articles/soft-robotic-arm-uses-flexible-sensors-to-understand-its-position/

Effective communication

Dear Prof Brad,

I am Sum Jin Yao, your student from MEC1281 T6, I graduated from Ngee Ann Polytechnic, with a diploma in Mechanical Engineering. After my National Service, I decided to further my studies in Mechanical Engineering program offered by Singapore Institute of Technology (SIT). 

I am always a hands-on person, I like the process of brainstorming ideas for solution, it allows my creative to run freely. I am also intrigued by how things work and why did it works. I remembered when I was in preschool, my parents brought me lots of toys that required built from stretch. This could be the reason why I today I am still interested in mechanics. 

I believe one of my communication strength is, I am not afraid to speak with strangers. I always believed that, I can learn something new from everyone, it could be their experiences, achievements or even their point of views. As a result, I tend to make friends quite easily. 

I believe one of my communication weakness is, sometimes when I lack the vocabulary to express myself or ideas effectively. As my parents do not speak English at home, I lack the chances to practice using English. Sometimes, people could not fully understand what I am trying to convey to them, and could even leads to misunderstanding.

At the end of the course, I hope I would be able to express myself more freely and concise, regulate my ideas more fluently and lastly how to make a impactful short conversation. I hope with these improvements, I will be able to make an strong and good impression.

Yours student,

Sum Jin Yao

The Importance of Communication Skills for Engineers

 “I contend that we (engineers) are undervalued because of our widespread inability to explain what we do to the general public (and why it is so important). It is one of the hardest goals to accomplish, to be able to boil down difficult concepts into a short and easily understood presentation or elevator pitch.”

Marybeth Miceli, President, Miceli Infrastructure Consulting, USA (2011)

I agree with this quote that communication is the key stumbling block, in conveying of ideas or concepts in layman term. Communication helps to express yourself and also for others to understands you better. Without communication it is very difficult for others to know what you are thinking, this would be like living in your own world.