1.12. Nature of Technology http://www.ck12.org
have major impacts on society, science, and industry. For example, some people predict that 3-D printing will
revolutionize manufacturing.
Q:Making products with 3-D printers has several advantages over making them with machines in factories. What
do you think some of the advantages might be?
A:Making products with 3-D printers would allow anyone anywhere to make just about anything, provided they have
the printer, powder, and computer program. Suppose, for example, that you live in a remote location and need a new
part for your car. The solution? Just download the design on your computer and print the part on your 3-D printer.
Manufacturing would no longer require specially designed machines in factories that produce pollution. Another
advantage of using 3-D printers to make products is that no materials are wasted. This would lower manufacturing
costs as well as save natural resources.
How Technology Evolves
New technologies such as 3-D printers often evolve slowly as new materials, designs, or processes are invented.
Solar-powered cars are a good example. For several decades, researchers have been working on developing practical
solar-powered cars. Why? Cars powered by sunlight have at least two important advantages over gas-powered cars.
The energy they use is free and available almost everywhere, and they produce no pollution. The timeline inTable
1.3 shows some of the milestones in the evolution of solar-powered cars.
TABLE1.3: Evolution of Solar-Powered Cars
Milestone
1954: First modern solar cell The first modern solar cell was invented in 1954 by a
team of researchers at Bell Labs in the U.S. It could
convert light energy to enough electricity to power
devices.
1955: First solar car In 1955, William G. Cobb of General Motors demon-
strated his 15-inch-long “Sunmobile,” the world’s first
solar-powered automobile. Its tiny electric motor was
powered by 12 solar cells on top of the car.
1983: First practical solar car In 1983, the first drivable solar car was created by Hans
Tholstrup, a Danish inventor who was influenced by
the earlier Sunmobile. Called the “Quiet Achiever,”
Tholstrup’s car was driven 4000 km across Australia.
However, its average speed was only 23 km/h, despite
having more than 700 solar cells on its top panel.
1987: First World Solar Challenge Inspired by his success with the Quiet Achiever, in
1987 Tholstrup launched the first World Solar Chal-
lenge. This was the world’s first solar car race. The
race is now held every other year. In that first race, the
winner was General Motors’ “Sunraycer,” shown here.
It had an average speed of 67 km/h. Its aerodynamic
shape helped it achieve that speed.
2008: First Commercial solar car In 2008, the first commercial solar car was introduced.
Called the Venturi Astrolab, it has a top speed of 120
km/h. To go this fast while using very little energy,
it is built of ultra-light materials. Its oversized body
protects the driver in case of collision and provides a
lot of surface area for solar cells.