Menu
Home
People
Places
Arts
History
Plants & Animals
Science
Life & Culture
Technology
Reference.org
Nicolaus Otto
open-in-new
<p>Nicolaus August Otto (10 June 1832 – 26 January 1891) was a German <a href="/facts/Engineer/ph4TnHnG">engineer</a> who successfully developed the compressed charge <a href="/facts/Internal_combustion_engine/Ju4BXzj0">internal combustion engine</a> which ran on petroleum gas and led to the modern internal combustion engine. The <a href="/facts/Association_of_German_Engineers/7epCLHzg">Association of German Engineers</a> (VDI) created DIN standard 1940 which says "Otto Engine: internal combustion engine in which the ignition of the compressed fuel-air mixture is initiated by a timed spark", which has been applied to all engines of this type since. </p>