1. Technological Systems
Science of Technology
© 2011 Project Lead The Way, Inc.

2. Technological Systems
PLTW Gateway®
Unit 2 – Lesson 2.3 – Automated Systems
What Is a System?
A group of interrelated components designed collectively to achieve a desired goal.
A technological system produces results through the use of technology.
Or it may be small, like a cell phone.
A system may be huge, like a space shuttle.

3. Technological Systems
PLTW Gateway®
Unit 2 – Lesson 2.3 – Automated Systems
The Basic System Model
Information
Machines
Tools and
Materials
People
Capital
Energy
Time
Resources
Process
Action part of a system.
Combines resources that
respond to the input
to produce a result.
Input
The desired
result
Output
The actual
result
All systems include an Input, Process, and Output
During the Process the seven technological Resources are used.

4. What are the 7 Technological Resources?
Technological Systems
PLTW Gateway
Unit 2 – Lesson 2.3 – Automated Systems
What are the 7 Technological Resources?
Something that supplies help or aid
Could be a source of information or expertise
Could be a source of wealth or revenue
Could be supplies or support
Technology comes from the knowledge and skill that is needed to use raw materials, tools, and energy to create the products and services that we want. The same resources used in ancient days are still being used today to develop new technology.

5. Technological Systems
PLTW Gateway
Unit 2 – Lesson 2.3 – Automated Systems
People
People are the creators of technology
People are the end users of the products that their technology has built
People are in the service area of technology
Although many of the other resources were available, technology didn’t advance until people came along.
Between the designer and the end user are many jobs that must be done by people. They build the tools and machines, set up the factories, run the machines, and finally package and ship the end products.
People sell, install, and repair the products of technologies.

6. Technological Systems
PLTW Gateway
Unit 2 – Lesson 2.3 – Automated Systems
Information
Knowledge
Communication
Understanding
The knowledge of what do with your product or service.
How to communicate your product or service to others for their use.
The “How to” of your product or service. How to make or provide it. How much to charge for it.

7. Technological Systems
PLTW Gateway
Unit 2 – Lesson 2.3 – Automated Systems
Materials
Raw materials
Found in a natural state
Rocks, oil, plants, animals, trees
Technology developed because people learned how to use and process various materials into useful objects. People have also learned to create new materials by combining or refining natural resources in ways not done by nature.
Raw materials are found in a natural state (rocks metal ores, crude oil, plants, animals, trees, etc.)

8. Technological Systems
PLTW Gateway
Unit 2 – Lesson 2.3 – Automated Systems
Materials
Raw materials
Processed materials
Natural resources that have been changed by technology into a more useful form
Lumber from trees, leather from animals
Processed materials are natural resources that have been changed by technology into a more useful form (lumber from trees, leather from animals, etc.)

9. Technological Systems
PLTW Gateway
Unit 2 – Lesson 2.3 – Automated Systems
Materials
Raw materials
Processed materials
Manufactured materials
Created when natural resources are altered by processes that do more than change the size or shape of the material.
They are so changed in form that you can’t recognize where they were from
Gasoline, paper, glass, metals
Manufactured materials are created when natural resources are altered by processes that do more than merely change the size or shape of the material (gasoline, kerosene, concrete, metals). They are so changed in form that you can’t recognized where they were made from.

10. Technological Systems
PLTW Gateway
Unit 2 – Lesson 2.3 – Automated Systems
Materials
Raw materials
Processed materials
Manufactured materials
Synthetic materials
Materials created artificially
Not natural materials
Made by scientifically combining chemicals and elements into rare natural materials, or materials not found in nature
Industrial diamonds, man-made rubber, plastics
Synthetic materials are created artificially – they are not natural materials. They are made by scientifically combining chemicals and elements into rare natural materials or other materials not found in nature. (Industrial diamonds, man-made rubber, plastics.)

11. Technological Systems
PLTW Gateway
Unit 2 – Lesson 2.3 – Automated Systems
Tools and Machines
Tools increase our ability to do work.
A tool becomes a mechanical machine when a power system is added to make the tool work better.
Tools and machines increase our ability to do work, and perform our jobs better.

12. Technological Systems
PLTW Gateway
Unit 2 – Lesson 2.3 – Automated Systems
Energy
Sources of machine power
Man power
After a hard workout in a gym, did you ever feel like you ran out of energy? Your muscles use a great deal of energy to perform the tasks that you do daily. Even when you are at rest, you use energy to breathe, think, and pump blood throughout your body.
Energy is the source of power that runs all of our technological systems. There are many sources of energy, natural or synthetic, and in limited or unlimited supply.

13. Technological Systems
PLTW Gateway
Unit 2 – Lesson 2.3 – Automated Systems
Capital
Capital is
Barter
Money
Credit
Property
Our earliest ancestors didn’t need capital. At the dawn of technology, inventors created their Stone Age tools without the help of others.
Using capital, people can now buy all the ingredients needed to create new technology. Today, a team approach is used to develop most new ideas. Under the direction of large corporations, experts are hired. The company buys materials, tools, knowledge, skill and creative people. These companies construct the need laboratories, mix all the ingredients together, and then wait for team effort to deliver useful products.

14. Technological Systems
PLTW Gateway
Unit 2 – Lesson 2.3 – Automated Systems
Time
Everything takes time
People are paid for the time they work
Too much or too little time can ruin your results.
Can you name something that takes place instantly without the passing of time?
Products where people, rather than machines supply most of the labor are usually more expensive than products made by machines.
All recipes call for measured amounts of different ingredients. Once the ingredients are put together, you must stir, mix, heat or freeze the contents for a specific amount of time. Too much or too little of any ingredient, including time, could ruin your results. Whether you are making a cake, building a car, or designing a new product, your results will take shape over time.

15. Technological Systems
Open-Loop System
Technological Systems
PLTW Gateway®
Unit 2 – Lesson 2.3 – Automated Systems
Information
Machines
Tools and
Materials
People
Capital
Energy
Time
Resources
Process
A microwave combines
the resources to heat
your food for a certain
amount of time.
Input
A hot meal
Output
Food is warm
All 7 resources are used in every technological system. There are two types of systems, the first one we are going to study is the Open-Loop System.
A system that has no way of monitoring or adjusting itself is an open-loop system.
Since you can’t control the temperature, only the time the microwave is heating your food, it may come out too hot or not hot enough.

16. Can You Think of Other Open-Loop Systems?
Technological Systems
PLTW Gateway®
Unit 2 – Lesson 2.3 – Automated Systems
Can You Think of Other Open-Loop Systems?
Woodstove
Does the temperature
remain constant?
Washer/Dryer
Do the clothes always come out clean and dry?
Let students brainstorm some ideas of their own for an open-loop system before continuing.
Open-loop systems can be controlled to some degree. For example timers can be used to turn off an oven at a certain time, or the light in your house can be set on timers. Although these systems are controlled by timers, they do not change if conditions change. The oven will turn off even if the food is not fully cooked. The lights will come on even if no one is home.
Some dryers have moisture sensors – would that be an open or closed loop system?
Train
Does the speed
remain constant while travelling uphill, downhill, or on a flat?

17. What Is Different in These Systems?
Technological Systems
PLTW Gateway®
Unit 2 – Lesson 2.3 – Automated Systems
What Is Different in These Systems?
Furnace
Temperature is controlled by setting thermostat to desired level.
These systems have a monitoring device that provides feedback to the system to determine whether a change is necessary. Therefore, they are called Closed-Loop Systems.
Bicycle
Rider watches road
and adjusts pedaling
or braking.
Car Speed
Driver looks at speedometer
regularly and adjusts speed
as needed or sets cruise control.

18. Technological Systems
Closed Loop System
Technological Systems
PLTW Gateway®
Unit 2 – Lesson 2.3 – Automated Systems
Information
Machines
Tools and
Materials
People
Capital
Energy
Time
Resources
Output
Car speed
is 50 mph
Input Go
30 mph
Comparator
Driver
compares
actual
speed to
desired speed.
Controller
Driver
presses
brake or
accelerator.
Process
A car combines
the resources to move
the car and transport
the riders.
One purpose of feedback is to improve the operation of a system. Therefore, some type of feedback can be added to most systems. People or sensors can provide data or information to adjust the system. Feedback comes in many forms. For example, your teacher uses homework and tests to monitor how well you are learning. The grades you receive on your work are your feedback, indicating how you are doing so that, if needed, you can change your study methods and work to improve your test-taking skills.
Teacher can discuss the difference between manual feedback – driver seeing the speed on the speedometer, and automatic feedback – setting the cruise control.
Combination of
speedometer,
driver’s eye, and
driver’s brain form
the feedback loop.
Monitor
Driver sees car is going
too fast.
Feedback
Loop

19. Open or Closed Loop System?
Technological Systems
PLTW Gateway®
Unit 2 – Lesson 2.3 – Automated Systems
Open or Closed Loop System?
Teacher should lead discussion that may include … Does the traffic light change because of time or because it has a sensor that knows when a car is present?

20. Technological Systems
PLTW Gateway®
Unit 2 – Lesson 2.3 – Automated Systems
Image Resources
Microsoft, Inc. (2008). Clip Art. Retrieved December 10, 2008, from