Functional Decomposition

In order to complete the problem of a drone delivery system, the team identified three systems that encompass the necessary functions of the systems and subsystems. These systems include handle and sense. Together, these fulfill all the fundamental requirements involved in relocating a package using a drone. Both systems are critical to the success of solving the problem.

Hierarchy Chart

The first system, handle, is the system that is concerned with touching the package physically. The functions included within the handle system are to deploy and retract the package holding device, and gather, secure, and unload the package. The first two functions, deploy and retract device, specifically describe the tool that is going to activate before the package is being collected and after it has been dropped off. The next two functions, gather and secure, explain the action of collecting and locking the package into place. Although gather and secure package are closely tied, they are separately defined functions because the package could potentially be gathered, but not secured well. The last function within the handle system is unload package, which is concerned with the placement of the package to its destination.

The second system on the drone is sense, which heavily influences the other system. The function, identify package, is a primary step where the drone will receive user inputted information about the package such as its current location, delivery point, sender ID, dimensions, and weight. The second function, analyze dimensions, is a task the device will perform to measure the package. Similarly, determining weight will also be a function that the device will measure. These measurements and information will be forwarded to the fourth function to confirm the drone has the correct package. The final sensing function to detect battery level will be used to ensure the drone has enough battery for each of its tasks. This is critical for safety and the determining flight path function.