The Main Subsystems
Have a read of this web page, which outlines inputs and outputs and the next page which discusses feedback (temperature controller for a fish tank) that is very similar to the one you are looking at.
This document is rather high level but does provide some good definitions of key concepts like feedback and control.
This document is rather high level but does provide some good definitions of key concepts like feedback and control.
Exemplars
Basic Circuit Diagram
On the left is a circuit diagram for the basic Automatic plant watering circuit. Below is the fritzing file it was exported from (file-export-png) so you can modify it. This might include changing the fixed resistor in the potential divider for a potentiometer, switching the transistor for an Arduino....
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Submission Requirements
When you submit your work it needs be have the following features (you can get more details from NZQA here):
- Candidate’s NSN written correctly on the top right hand corner of the first page (you can put it in the document header)
- Fewer than 10 pages single sided
- A4 size
- Font size must be set at the rough equivalent of Arial 12
- Margins must be set at the rough equivalent of 2.5 cm all around (top and bottom, left and right)
- Reports must be securely stapled in the top left-hand corner
- All information from sources other than the candidate’s own work must be acknowledged at the place in the work that the information is used. It must be immediately apparent to the marker that the material is not the candidate’s own
Suggested Structure
Achieved
Merit
Excellence
- Describe what a technological system is
- Describe what subsystems are. Give an example of a technological system and the subsystems that make it up (don't use the automatic plant watering system yet)
- Introduce the automatic plant watering system and why it would be useful
- Put in the circuit diagram/schematic of the automatic plant watering system and describe the input, control and output subsystems
- Describe how the subsystems in the automatic plant watering system work together to allow it to function
Merit
- Explain how the different subsystems interact with each other
- Describe Feedback in relation to the automatic plant watering system
- Give 2 advantages and 2 disadvantages of at least one of the subsystems in the plant watering system
Excellence
- Discuss advantages and disadvantages of at least one subsystem. Compare and evaluate decisions made by technologists
- Discuss all 3 aspects of the design, development and maintenance decisions made by technologists regarding subsystems in your technological system