Systems Engineering Study Notes

This area of study focuses on engineering knowledge associated with the integration, calibration and control of mechanical and electrotechnological systems, how they work and can be adjusted, as well as how their performance can be calculated and represented diagrammatically in a range of forms. Students use fundamental physics and applied mathematics to solve systems engineering problems. They apply theoretical concepts and principles and use the systems engineering process to manage the design and planning of an integrated and controlled system and to commence its production. They investigate the factors that influence the creation and use of their integrated and controlled system. Students demonstrate innovation and creativity as well as project management skills. The system commenced in Unit 3 is completed and evaluated in Unit 4, Area of Study 2.

In this area of study students gain an understanding of energy sources and the application of technologies to convert energy sources into power for engineered systems. They consider the relevance of designing systems that are beneficial to the economy, environment and society. Demand for energy to produce electricity, heating and propulsion has sharply increased in recent years. However, current use of non-renewable energy cannot be sustained. Focus has increased on the need for efficient, safe, environmentally-friendly and economical extraction, generation, conversion, transportation, storage and use of power. Students analyse and compare the benefits, limitations and impacts of using different forms of energy sources, including the wastes that are produced and cradle-to-cradle (C2C) analysis. They investigate and evaluate the technologies used to harness, generate and store non-renewable and renewable energy sources. Students consider the technological systems developed to capture and store renewable energy and technological developments to improve the credentials of non-renewables. These developments include gains in efficiency through the transformation of non-renewables to other types of energy such as electricity, reduction of carbon dioxide emissions with non-renewable fuel technologies and hybrid technologies. Students look at examples of improvements in energy systems.

In this area of study students continue the development of the integrated and controlled system they researched, designed, planned and commenced production of in Unit 3, Area of Study 1. The completed operational system will demonstrate a range of theoretical concepts and principles studied in Units 3 and 4. Students support the production, testing, diagnosis and evaluation of their systems, subsystems and use of components with appropriate documentation, and with reference to technical data. In their evaluation they refer to the systems engineering process and the factors that have influenced the creation and use of the system. They also consider improvements that could be made to both the system and the process.

In this area of study students focus on new or emerging systems engineering technologies and processes that have been developed within the last eight years preceding the year of study, or that are in the developmental stages and may not yet be commercially available. Students source recent publications and/or undertake site visits to assist their research of new and emerging systems. They consider scientific, technological, environmental, economic and societal and human factors that led to the development of the new or emerging technology and develop an understanding of how it operates and is used. Students consider the likely impacts and resulting advantages and disadvantages of the systems in relation to social, economic and environmental factors. The new and emerging developments may be exhibited in, or intended for use in, defence operations, aerospace, health, sports and enhancement of human physical capabilities, security and intelligence gathering, robotics and automation, metrology, transportation and education, or combinations of these. Many of these developments are made possible through the use of digital technologies. The new or emerging technology must not be the same as that studied in Unit 3, Area of Study 2.

This area of study focuses on engineering knowledge associated with the integration, calibration and control of mechanical and electrotechnological systems, including their operation, adjustment and diagrammatic representation. Students use fundamental physics and applied mathematics to respond to systems engineering problems while considering ethical design, applying theoretical concepts and principles of mechanics and electrotechnology to design, plan and commence production of an integrated and controlled system. Outcome 1: On completion of this unit the student should be able to investigate, analyse and apply concepts and principles, and use components to design, plan and commence production of an integrated and controlled mechanical and electrotechnological system that considers ethical design using the systems engineering process.

This area of study examines various energy sources and the application of technologies to convert these energy sources into work for engineered systems. Students assess the importance of designing systems that are beneficial to the economy, environment and society, using cradle to cradle (C2C) analysis to compare the benefits, limitations and impacts of using different energy sources. They investigate and evaluate the technologies used to harness, generate and store renewable and non-renewable energy sources, including advancements that improve the sustainability of non-renewables. Outcome 2: On completion of this unit the student should be able to discuss the advantages and disadvantages of renewable and non-renewable energy sources, and analyse and critique technologies used to harness, generate and store renewable and non-renewable energy.

This area of study focuses on the development of the integrated and controlled system that considers ethical design, which students researched, designed and planned in Unit 3 Area of Study 1. They implement the plan to continue production, supporting the production, testing, diagnosis and evaluation of their systems, subsystems and use of components with appropriate documentation and reference to technical data. Students refer to the systems engineering process and the factors that have influenced the creation and use of the system, and consider improvements to both the system and their application of the process. Outcome 1: On completion of this unit the student should be able to evaluate and critique their production, test and diagnose processes and justify a mechanical and electrotechnological integrated and controlled system that considers ethical design using the systems engineering process, and manage, document and evaluate the system and the process, as well as their use of it.

This area of study focuses on new and emerging systems engineering technologies and processes developed within the last eight years preceding the year of study, or that are in developmental stages and may not yet be commercially available. Students consider scientific, technological, environmental, economic, societal and human factors that led to the development of these technologies, develop an understanding of how they operate and are used, and speculate on the likely impacts and resulting advantages and disadvantages in relation to social, economic, environmental and other ethical factors and worldviews. The new and emerging technology must not be the same as that studied in Unit 3 Area of Study 2. Outcome 2: On completion of this unit the student should be able to evaluate a range of new and emerging systems engineering technologies and analyse and critique likely impacts of these selected technologies.