Final answer:
Computer-Aided Engineering (CAE) systems are used to design, analyze, test, simulate, and manufacture products, evidenced by the design process of the 777 aircraft using CADD. CAE systems optimize the engineering process, enabling cost-effective and efficient virtual prototyping and ensuring product manufacturability.
Step-by-step explanation:
Computer-Aided Engineering (CAE) systems can be employed to design, analyze, test, simulate, and manufacture products before their physical existence. This ensures the product can be crafted to the exact specifications upon release to the production floor.
An example of CAE in action is the 777 design process, where sophisticated Computer-Aided Design and Drafting (CADD) systems like CATIA and EPIC were used to design every part of the aircraft and ensure compatibility and fit among components, significantly reducing the need for physical mockups and allowing the first assembled 777 aircraft to be flight-worthy.
Engineering practices have evolved with computer technology to incorporate CAD software broadly across designing and manufacturing processes, where virtual prototypes and simulations can reveal design flaws or enhance understanding without the need for physical models, thus saving time and resources.
Engineers apply extensive knowledge of science, mathematics, and engineering to conduct experiments and analyze data. They design systems, components, or processes meeting various constraints, including economic, environmental, ethical, and manufacturability concerns.
They can also estimate manufacturing costs, determine time standards, and recommend tooling and process requirements of new or existing product lines, to seamlessly integrate technical designs into a production environment.
correct answer b. Computer-aided engineering (CAE) systems