Document Detail


Engineering with uncertainty: monitoring air bag performance.
MedLine Citation:
PMID:  18425601     Owner:  NLM     Status:  MEDLINE    
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
Modern engineering is complicated by an enormous number of uncertainties. Engineers know a great deal about the material world and how it works. But due to the inherent limits of testing and the complexities of the world outside the lab, engineers will never be able to fully predict how their creations will behave. One way the uncertainties of engineering can be dealt with is by actively monitoring technologies once they have left the development and production stage. This article uses an episode in the history of automobile air bags as an example of engineers who had the foresight and initiative to carefully track the technology on the road to discover problems as early as possible. Not only can monitoring help engineers identify problems that surface in the field, it can also assist them in their efforts to mobilize resources to resolve problem.
Authors:
Jameson M Wetmore
Publication Detail:
Type:  Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't; Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.; Review     Date:  2008-04-19
Journal Detail:
Title:  Science and engineering ethics     Volume:  14     ISSN:  1353-3452     ISO Abbreviation:  Sci Eng Ethics     Publication Date:  2008 Jun 
Date Detail:
Created Date:  2008-05-27     Completed Date:  2008-09-09     Revised Date:  -    
Medline Journal Info:
Nlm Unique ID:  9516228     Medline TA:  Sci Eng Ethics     Country:  England    
Other Details:
Languages:  eng     Pagination:  201-18     Citation Subset:  E; IM    
Affiliation:
School of Human Evolution & Social Change, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85287-4401, USA. jameson.wetmore@asu.edu
Export Citation:
APA/MLA Format     Download EndNote     Download BibTex
MeSH Terms
Descriptor/Qualifier:
Air Bags* / adverse effects,  ethics,  standards
Causality
Engineering* / ethics,  organization & administration
Equipment Design / ethics
Equipment Failure
Equipment Failure Analysis / methods
Equipment Safety / ethics
First Aid
Health Education / ethics,  organization & administration
Humans
Informed Consent / ethics
Materials Testing / methods
Problem Solving
Product Surveillance, Postmarketing / methods
Public Health / ethics,  methods
Safety Management* / ethics,  organization & administration
Systems Analysis
Technology Assessment, Biomedical* / ethics,  organization & administration
Uncertainty*
United States / epidemiology
Wounds and Injuries / epidemiology,  etiology,  prevention & control

From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine


Previous Document:  Molecular cloning and characterization of crustin from mud crab Scylla paramamosain.
Next Document:  Light-dependent compartmentalization of transducin in rod photoreceptors.