Weston Middle School

Massachusetts Grade 8

Technology/Engineering MCAS Review
Home | Site Map | Background | Materials, Tools and Machines | Engineering Design | Communications Technology |
Manufacturing Technology | Construction Technology | Transportation Technology | Bio-Related Technology | Links |
 

Subsystems of a Transportation Vehicle
  6.3 Identify and describe three subsystems of a transportation vehicle or device, i.e., structural, propulsion, guidance, suspension, control, and support.
 

Subsystem

Purpose

Examples
 

Structure (Frame)

The structure or frame of a vehicle provides structural support for all the other vehicle components, and holds them in position;

see also chassis - the skeleton of a motor vehicle consisting of a steel frame supported on springs that holds the body and motor (http://www.thefreedictionary.com/frame)

Fiat frame: Source: www.presskogyo.co.jp/.../ pop_frame_02.html

 

Propulsion

 The propulsion system of a vehicle provides the energy to move it; this can be an internal combustion engine, an electric motor, or rocket engine

source :http://www.prime-mover.org/Engines/Images/lyc_FB_side.jpg
 

Guidance

 a system of equipment for automatically guiding the path of a vehicle (especially a missile)
wordnet.princeton.edu/perl/webwn

A guidance system is a device or group of devices used to navigate a ship, aircraft, missile, rocket, satellite, or other craft. Typically this refers to a system that navigates without direct or continuous human control. Systems that are intended to have a high degree of human interaction are usually referred to as a navigational system.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guidance_system

http://history.nasa.gov/SP-4002/images/fig26.jpg
 

Suspension

 Includes springs, shock absorbers/struts, and linkage used to suspend a vehicle's frame, body, engine and drivetrain above the wheels.
www.cdnauto.org/glossary/s.asp

suspension: a mechanical system of springs or shock absorbers connecting the wheels and axles to the chassis of a wheeled vehicle
wordnet.princeton.edu/perl/webwn

http://www.allwheelalignment.com/images/suspension.gif

 

Controls

 Control speed and direction of a vehicle, on an automobile includes rack-and -pinion steering system; on an airplane, includes control surfaces

http://www.sd53.bc.ca/Tuc-el-NuitElementary/FlightControls/Flight.html
 

Support

    
 
Revised December 2005 by Jonathan Dietz, dietzj@mail.weston.org