much excite, much ignite: part 1 (wsc 2025)

internal combustion engine

engine where fuel burns inside the engine to make it run [cars]

heat engine

engines that turns heat into movement (thermal to mechanical energy) [internal combustion engines]

gas turbine engine

engine that uses spinning fans and hot gases to create power [airplanes, some vehicles]

Wankel rotary engine

engine that uses a spinning shape instead of pistons to make power, named after Felix Wankel

Otto engine

a common type of gasoline engine that works in four steps (intake, compression, power, exhaust), named after Nikolaus Otto.

reciprocating piston engine

engine where pistons move up and down to make power [car engines]

rotary engine

engines where parts spin in a circle instead of moving up and down [Wankel engine]

continuous combustion engine

engines where fuel burns nonstop, not in bursts [jet engines]

hydrocarbon

molecules made of hydrogen and carbon, contributes to air polllution [gasoline, diesel]

diesel

fuel made from crude oil, used in diesel engines (more energy-dense and efficient than gasoline), produces acid rain

biodiesel

renewable fuel made from oily plants or animal fats; can replace or blend with diesel

bioethanol

renewable fuel made from fermented plants like corn or sugarcane; often mixed with gasoline.

ETBE

fuel additive made from ethanol and isobutylene (petroleum-derived hydrocarbon) that lowers emissions.

hydrogen

clean fuel that, when used, only produces water - can power fuel cells or be burned directly, but volatile and costly

who perfected Automobiles?

inventors like Gottlieb Daimler and Karl Benz

Mercedes

Wilhelm Maybach in 1901

Model T

Henry Ford introduced it in 1908

General Motors

William Durant in 1908

Big Three automakers

Ford, General Motors, and Chrysler

fuel injection

system that delivers fuel directly into an engine's intake, replacing carburetors

cruise control

system that automatically maintains a set speed in a car without the driver needing to press the accelerator

turbocharger

exhaust gas spins a turbine that pushes more air into the engine, giving it more power without wasting extra fuel

antilock brake

the brakes stop the wheels from locking up by automatically pulsing the brakes during hard stops, helping drivers stay in control

catalytic converter

it reduces harmful car emissions by turning pollutants into safer gases like carbon dioxide and water

computer-controlled engine

microprocessors adjust things like ignition timing and air-fuel mixture for better performance and lower emissions

seat belt

helps keep people safe in crashes by holding them in place, mandatory in U.S. cars starting from 1968

airbag

safety devices that inflate during a crash to cushion and protect people inside the car

GPS/in-car navigation

helps drivers find their way using satellite-based maps and directions in real-time

advanced driver assistance systems

helps prevent accidents by giving warnings or directly intervening, uses sensors and cameras to monitor the road and the driver [adaptive cruise control, lane keeping, and emergency braking]

Mike John

trapped inside a self-driving taxi Waymo as it spun around the parking lot, making him nearly miss his flight, customer service could've been AI but he wasn't sure

flying car

A mix of an airplane, a helicopter, and a car. It would have a vertical takeoff with rotating blades or tilting wings (less resistance than helicopters).