How has the history and evolution of engines coevolved with human civilization?

Engines, the heart of cars and airplanes, have been around since prehistoric times, became independent during the Industrial Revolution, and evolved on land, sea, and sky. In the future, a variety of engines that use clean energy will emerge, playing an important role in human life and sustainable development.

 

We’ve all been thrilled by the roar of a car or airplane engine at one time or another. In the movie Mad Max, the eight-cylinder engine was the god of the fanatics as the characters screamed with white paint in their mouths. Today, the engine sits at the heart of a car, airplane, or other machine, and like the heart, it powers everything else. As important as they are in the modern era, engines have a long history with humans.
Engines first appeared in prehistoric times. In the past, humans have used engines to accomplish tasks that were difficult or impossible for humans alone, utilizing nature and animals in addition to humans. At that time, there was no concept of automation, so in order to obtain sustainable power from the outside, they needed ancillary materials such as aqueducts to flow water like Rome in the past, windmills in the Netherlands, and waterwheels in Korea. Those ancillary materials were mostly fixed on the ground or needed to use the ground, so early engines could only exist on the ground.

 

 

It wasn’t until the Industrial Revolution in the 18th and 19th centuries that engines were able to become independent and generate their own power. By introducing the concepts of combustion and pressure, which burns oxygen and fuel to generate energy, engines, which had been utilizing natural forces, were able to operate independently without any accessories. The engine was able to leave the ground and begin its evolution into a means of transportation, like James Watt’s steam locomotive. According to Pulkrabek’s book “Engineering Fundamentals of the Internal Combustion Engine,” the internal combustion engine, in which combustion occurs inside the engine, became fundamental during this time.
Since the Industrial Revolution, engines have steadily evolved to adapt to their environment, just as life on Earth has evolved to adapt its body to the sky, land, and sea. Just as humans can only breathe in air and fish can only breathe in water, engines have been subtly differentiated to operate efficiently in specific environments. Humans have also developed engines through constant technological innovation, actively harnessing the power of nature. Along the way, engines have evolved into various forms, gradually expanding in importance and role.
Terrestrial engines were centered on reciprocating engines based on piston and crank motions. In William Crouse’s Automotive Mechanics, published in 2009, the engine is not only the cylinder in which combustion takes place, but also the various shafts connected to it, and the ancillary parts, including electrical devices. The difference today is that, unlike in the past, these accessories transmit power from within the engine, rather than from an external source. Modern engineers are focusing their research not only on the combustion part of the engine, but also on the ancillaries. In particular, research into fuel efficiency and emissions reduction is one of the key challenges in modern engine development.
After leaving the ground, engines have gradually taken to the sea and the sky. In the sky, engines that actively utilize the air in the atmosphere have emerged. Unlike engines on the ground, however, air is scarce in the air, and in order to generate enough lift to stay airborne, you need to fly faster, so external combustion engines that can take in enough air while remaining open began to be researched. Engines that use a compressor and turbine work by compressing air with fuel, burning it, and using the resulting force to turn the turbine to propel the airplane. Today, more aircraft engines are being developed for different sizes and purposes, from large airliners like the Boeing 747 to ultra-fast fighter jets like the F-22. Advances in aircraft engines have enabled faster and safer flight and have contributed greatly to humanity’s advancement in aviation technology.
At sea, engines have evolved to be stronger and larger to provide enough propulsion to push against the water, rather than pushing air like engines on land. Because modern ships are the foundation for transporting goods, they have to weigh more than other modes of transportation and must be designed to be stable in variable weather, so unlike car or airplane engines, they have evolved with a focus on being able to perform at the same efficiency in a variety of situations. Advances in marine engines are helping to maximize the efficiency of maritime logistics and play an important role in the growth of the global economy.
The engines of the future will be even more differentiated than they are today. Over time, the number of fuels will continue to increase, and engines that operate in novel ways using electric motors, plasma technology, and other technologies will continue to emerge. In addition, while engines have historically incorporated cutting-edge technology to achieve better performance, the future is expected to focus less on performance and more on semi-permanent, green energy sources such as electricity and solar energy. This is because the world’s environmental awareness has increased, and the engine industry has become more urgent to develop eco-friendly engines to secure future competitiveness. In addition, the engines of the future are likely to become smarter and more efficient by combining with artificial intelligence.
Engines have evolved with mankind and have become indispensable in the modern era. With each development, humanity has grown rapidly, and engines are likely to be at the center of future growth. Research and development of engines will continue to be important for the continued growth of humanity. In this context, advances in engine technology are more than just mechanical innovations; they will improve the quality of human life and provide a critical foundation for a sustainable future.