ISEN 440 – SYSTEM THINKING

Instructor: Dr. Lewis Ntaimo

Module5-Assignment-9
Systems Modeling: Discrete Time Systems

Instructions: This is individual assignment and no collaboration is allowed. This

assignment gives the student an opportunity to learn how to do discrete time system
modeling. Read the lecture notes and/or reference texts and then attempt the questions on
your own. Compare your answers with the sample solutions provided. All the best!

Problem 1 [5 Points]
Consider a real system of your choice (e.g. some type of machine) and perform model
abstraction by identifying and defining the set of states, set of inputs, and set of outputs
for the system. Limit the size of each set to no more than four (4) elements. Next, define
a discrete system model Z that captures the mode of behavior of the real system: Z = (SZ,
IZ, OZ, NZ, RZ). Express NZ and RZ using ordered pairs and then construct a state
transition diagram to describe the behavior of system Z.

Problem 2. [5 Points] Consider an elevator that travels between three floors of a

building, floors 1, 2, and 3. Suppose that at any given time the elevator is either stopped
(door open or closed) at one of the floors, or is moving between floors, that is moving
from floor 1 to 2, floor 1 to 3, from 2 to 3, from 2 to 1, from 3 to 2, or from 3 to 1.
Determine the set of states for this elevator involving its location in terms of floors and
whether it is stopped or moving, e.g., stopped at floor 1; moving from floor 1 to 2.
Construct a state transition diagram to describe the behavior of this elevator system.

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Problem 3. [5 Points] Consider the following discrete system model Z:
Z = (SZ, IZ, OZ, NZ, RZ),
where
ZS = {PATROL, INTERCEPT},
IZ = {SILENCE, ALARM, ALL_CLEAR},
OZ = {REPORT, ALERT},
NZ = {(x, p), y}: x ∈ SZ; p ∈ IZ; y ∈SZ;
y = PATROL, if x = PATROL and p ≠ ALARM, or
if x = INTERCEPT and p = ALL_CLEAR;
y = INTERCEPT, if x = PATROL and p = ALARM, or
if x = INTERCEPT and p ≠ ALL_CLEAR},
RZ = {(PATROL, REPORT), (INTERCEPT, ALERT)}.

(a) [2 Points] Draw the state transition diagram for discrete system model Z.
(b) [2 Points] Construct a system experiment table for TZ = [0, 5].
(c) [1 Points] Explain the practical meaning of discrete system model Z.

Problem 4. [5 Points] Consider the following discrete system model MAC:

MAC = (SMAC, IMAC, OMAC, NMAC, RMAC),

where
SMAC = {1, 2, 3},
IMAC = {4, 5},
OMAC = {6, 7},
NMAC = {((1, 4), 2), ((2, 4), 1), ((3, 4), 3), ((1, 5), 3), ((2, 5), 2), ((3, 5), 2)},
RMAC = {(1, 7), (2, 6), (3, 7)}.

(a) [2 Points] Draw the state transition diagram for discrete system model MAC.
(b) [2 Points] Construct a system experiment table for TMAC = [0, 10].
(c) [1 Points] Explain the practical meaning of discrete system model MAC.