System Narrative

The systemigram reads your model as a story. Nodes become noun phrases, interfaces become verb phrases. The diagonal mainstay tells the central purpose; branches show supporting flows.

Mainstay (primary narrative)
Branch flow (supporting)
Cross-connection
"The Solar Array generates power, which the Power Distribution delivers to the Nav Computer, enabling path planning that commands Hub Motors to traverse terrain, while the Comms Processor streams telemetry to the Ground Station."
generates powerdelivers tocommandstraversesstores energyscans terrainlocalizesstabilizesdirectsreports tostreamsdeliverscoolsSolar ArrayEnergy SourceBattery PackEnergy StorePower Dist.DistributionLiDARPerceptionGPS ModulePositionIMUAttitudeNav ComputerDecision EngineHub MotorsPropulsionComms Proc.TelemetryGround StationExternalSteering AssyTerrainCargo BayPayloadPackage DeliveryThermal MgmtSupport↗ Reads top-left → bottom-right

The Mainstay

The primary narrative arc reads from top-left to bottom-right: Solar Array generates power, which Power Distribution delivers to the Nav Computer, which commands Hub Motors to traverse terrain. This is the core energy-to-motion transformation chain — the reason the rover exists.

Perception Branch

Three sensor inputs converge on the Nav Computer: LiDAR scans terrain for obstacles, GPS localizes position globally, and IMU stabilizes attitude estimation. This sensor fusion enables the decision engine to plan paths through unknown environments.

Communication Branch

The Nav Computer reports status to the Comms Processor, which streams telemetry to the Ground Station (external). This closes the human-in-the-loop: operators can monitor and override the autonomous system remotely.

Cross-Connections

Thermal Management appears as a support system — it cools the Battery Pack but doesn't participate in the primary transformation chain. Power Distribution also feeds Hub Motors directly (dashed line), showing that the energy bus crosses multiple narrative branches.

Systemigram methodology: Boardman (1994), Blair, Boardman & Sauser (2007). "The systemigram combines a narrative discussion of the system with a one-page diagram that models the narrative as a set of nodes and links." — McDermott, Ch.22 (Loper 2015)