Exercise 6

Abstraction & Modeling

Sensors:

• Detect levels of light reaching solar panel
• Document position of panel actuator
• Record output of solar panel
• Record state of solar panel setup
  • Idle: light sensor active, other mechanisms powered down
  • Active: all sensors and mechanisms operational

Microprocessor:

• Retrieve data from sensors directly
• Determine optimal light level from network data
  • Compare detected light level with optimal light level
• Calculate optimal panel output from network data
  • Compare output of panel with optimal output
• Determine and send to mechanisms relevant update instructions
  • angle adjustments of panel actuator based on data from sensors and network
  • immediate next state of panel setup
• Upload all collected data to network

User Interface:

• Retrieve and display sensor and output data from network
  • Sensor data and state information
• Take manual instruction inputs from users
• Report overall performance of system to users

Solar Panel Mechanism:

• Receive instructions from microprocessor
• Carry out prescribed system updates
  • Adjust actuator to optimize panel position
  • Route power generated by panel to storage or other systems
  • Shut down or start up appropriate components to change setup state

Network:

• Receives data from UI and microprocessor
• Retrieves current data regarding sun position, weather, etc. from internet
• Organizes and archives all data accordingly
• Sends relevant data to respective destinations
  • Input data from UI sent to microprocessor
  • Output data from microprocessor sent to UI
  • Current weather data sent to microprocessor