Unit 1: Mechanical Systems
This unit focuses on engineering fundamentals as the basis of understanding concepts, principles and components that operate in mechanical systems. Students create an operational system using the systems engineering process. All systems require some form of energy to function. Students research and quantify how systems use or convert the energy supplied to them. Students are introduced to mechanical engineering principles including mechanical subsystems and devices, their motions, elementary applied physics, and related mathematical calculations that can be applied to define and explain the physical characteristics of these systems.
Areas of study
- Mechanical system design
- Producing and evaluating mechanical systems
There are two outcomes:
- Describe and apply basic engineering concepts and principles, and use components to design and plan a mechanical system using the systems engineering process
- Produce, test, diagnose and evaluate a mechanical system using the systems engineering process
Unit 2: Electrotechnological Systems
In this unit students study fundamental electrotechnological engineering principles. Through the application of the systems engineering process, students create operational electrotechnological systems, which may also include mechanical components or electro-mechanical subsystems. Students study fundamental electrotechnological principles including applied electrical theory, standard representation of electronic components and devices, elementary applied physics in electrical circuits and mathematical processes that can be applied to define and explain the electrical characteristics of circuits. This unit offers opportunities for students to develop, apply and refine their knowledge in the creation of an operational system.
Areas of study
- Electrotechnological systems design
- Producing and evaluating electrotechnological systems
There are two outcomes:
- Investigate, represent, describe and use basic electrotechnological and basic control engineering concepts, principles and components, and design and plan an electrotechnological system using the systems engineering process
- Produce, test and evaluate an electrotechnological system, using the systems engineering process
Unit 3: Integrated and Controlled Systems
In this unit students study engineering principles used to explain physical properties of integrated systems and how they work. Students design and plan an operational, mechanical and electrotechnological integrated and controlled system. They learn about the technologies used to harness energy sources to provide power for engineered systems. Students commence work on the creation of an integrated and controlled system using the systems engineering process. This production work has a strong emphasis on innovation, designing, producing, testing and evaluating. Students manage the project, taking into consideration the factors that will influence the creation and use of their integrated and controlled system. Students’ understanding of fundamental physics and applied mathematics underpins the systems engineering process, providing a comprehensive understanding of mechanical and electrotechnological systems and how they function. Students learn about sources and types of energy that enable engineered technological systems to function. Comparisons are made between the use of renewable and non-renewable energy sources and their impacts. Students develop their understanding of technological systems developed to capture and store renewable energy and technological developments to improve the credentials of non-renewables.
Areas of study
- Integrated and controlled systems design
- Clean energy technologies
There are two outcomes:
- 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 using the systems engineering process
- Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of renewable and non-renewable energy sources, and analyse and evaluate the technology used to harness, generate and store non-renewable and renewable energy
Unit 4: Systems Control
In this unit students complete the creation of the mechanical and electrotechnological integrated and controlled system they researched, designed, planned and commenced production of in Unit 3. Students investigate new and emerging technologies, consider reasons for their development and analyse their impacts. Students continue producing their mechanical and electrotechnological integrated and controlled system using the systems engineering process. Students develop their understanding of the open-source model in the development of integrated and controlled systems, and document its use fairly. They effectively document the use of project and risk management methods throughout the creation of the system. They use a range of materials, tools, equipment and components. Students test, diagnose and analyse the performance of the system. They evaluate their process and the system. Students expand their knowledge of emerging developments and innovations through their investigation and analysis of a range of engineered systems. They analyse a specific emerging innovation, including its impacts.
Areas of study
- Producing and evaluating integrated and controlled systems
- New and emerging technologies
This unit has two outcomes:
- Finalise production, test and diagnose a mechanical and electrotechnological integrated and controlled system using the systems engineering process, and manage, document and evaluate the system and the process, as well as their use of it
- Evaluate a range of new or emerging systems engineering technologies and analyse the likely impacts of a selected technology
