Interlock (engineering)

Interlock is a fancy word used by engineers to describe a system that makes sure things happen in the right order to keep everyone safe. It's like when mommy or daddy teaches you how to cross the road safely. They tell you to look both ways before you cross. This is an interlock system that helps you understand what you need to do before you cross the road.

In engineering, interlocks are used to make sure that machines or systems work in the right order to avoid accidents or damage. Think about a simple example of washing clothes. In this case, the washing machine won't start unless you close the lid. This is an interlock that keeps you safe because if you leave the lid open, you could get hurt by the fast-moving parts inside the machine.

Interlocks can also be used to make sure that two things don't happen at the same time. For example, let's say you have a machine that crushes cars. You don't want the machine to start crushing a car while someone is still inside it, so you might have an interlock that stops the machine from working until the car is empty.

In summary, interlock is a way for engineers to make sure machines and systems work safely by controlling the order and timing of events. It's like a set of rules to follow to avoid accidents and protect people from harm.