Systems and Innovation

A three-part investigation into the de Havilland Comet 1, the world's first jet airliner, and the scientific detective work that uncovered the hidden physics of pressurized flight.

A photo gallery of the Comet disaster.

An investigation into the flawed testing protocols that masked the Comet’s vulnerability and how a single prototype’s survival doomed the production fleet.

A technical deep dive into the 1954 water tank experiments and how the squarish windows of the Comet turned air pressure into a structural saw.

An analysis of the three catastrophic break-ups in Calcutta, Elba, and Naples, and the institutional tendency to blame the weather when the machine is failing.

The final phase of the design journey, exploring digital tools for realization and the ethical responsibilities that ensure products benefit society while maintaining safety and sustainability.

The conceptual design phase where biomimicry and structured ideation techniques generate and evaluate multiple design concepts to find the optimal solution.

Examining the critical phase of requirements gathering, using reverse engineering and Quality Function Deployment to translate customer needs into measurable engineering specifications.

A comprehensive exploration of the engineering design process, from identifying needs through requirements gathering, concept selection, and digital realization, emphasizing ethical responsibility and sustainable innovation.

Exploring the foundational principles of engineering design, from the Titanic disaster to modern systematic approaches that integrate science, art, and human-centered thinking.