Final answer:
Engineers at Ford Motor Company are using computer-aided design (CAD) to create virtual models of new car designs. This technology allows for the design of complex structures and verification of their feasibility without needing physical prototypes, streamlining the engineering process significantly.
Step-by-step explanation:
Engineers at Ford Motor Company use computers to build new car models in the virtual world before they are ever built in automobile plants. These engineers are using computer-aided design (CAD). CAD software enables engineers to create detailed designs, incorporating 3D visualizations and simulations that can be tested for structural integrity and compatibility with other components, without the need for physical mockups.
The case of the Boeing 777 design process highlights the efficiency of CAD systems. The CAD system allowed for seamless design communication across various teams, ensuring parts were compatible and fit properly, a process orchestrated using sophisticated tools like CATIA and EPIC.
Furthermore, CAD has been instrumental in terms of architectural design since its inception, allowing architects to draft plans and create 3D models. These virtual representations provide a real-life view of architectural concepts that can be modified and viewed from different angles, vastly facilitating the design and approval process.