Discuss the contribution that any one of the following has made to technology: (i) Nicolaus Otto (ii) Frank Whittle (iii) Dugald Clerk. - Leaving Cert Engineering - Question h - 2013

Nicolaus Otto was a pivotal figure in the development of internal combustion engines. He is credited with inventing the first successful four-stroke internal combustion engine in 1876, which introduced the Otto cycle. This design allowed engines to efficiently burn fuel directly within the piston chamber, dramatically improving the performance and reliability of engines used in various applications, including automobiles. Otto's engine design laid the foundation for modern engines and had a lasting impact on automotive technology and industrial machinery.