Engineering Philosophy
This video is primarily a human story, but it also provides an insight into Eric Davies’ approach to engineering. It describes the successful development of an earlier invention that many experienced engineers believed could not be built, illustrating the persistence, creativity and determination that are now being applied to the development of the Miser HVAC system.
The Upside of Failure
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Project summary
In 1981, Perth Racing needed a giant vacuum cleaner to clean the grounds at Ascot Racecourse. Another engineering company had worked on the problem for nine months and concluded that it was impossible.
Eric accepted the challenge. The first design failed, but he kept refining the concept until the machine successfully cleared a two-metre-wide strip of lawn in front of the grandstand at Ascot Racecourse.
Challenge accepted thinking
Accepted practice is valuable, but difficult problems sometimes require a different approach.
Build and test
Engineering ideas ultimately have to be proven by experiment.
Persist through failure
Initial failure can reveal the path to a better design.
