Automated Systems

• An automated system perform as actions without human intervention.
• An automated system has sensors, a microprocessor, and actuators.
• Robotics is the creation and management of machines that perform actions that humans perform.
• A robot contains a mechanical structure, electrical components including parts of an automated system, and it can be programmed to perform specific actions.
• Robots can be found in a range of areas, for example, medicine and transport, and have advantages and disadvantages in each context.
• Artificial intelligence is an area of computer science that aims to develop systems that mimic human intelligence.
• Machine learning is one area of artificial intelligence where a program can amend its own data and algorithms.
• An expert system attempts to simulate a human expert in a specific area.
• An expert system is made up of a knowledge base, rule base, inference engine and interface.
• Automated is a device that is operated without human interaction.
• A sensor is a type of input device that is used to capture data from its immediate environment.
• A microprocessor is an integrated circuit that is able to perform many of the functions of a CPU.
• Analogue data is continuous data that can be any value within a range.
• Digital data is discrete data that is stored as 1s and 0s.
• Sensors read the environment and send the data onwards. The data is processed by a microprocessor. However, the sensor reads analogue data, but the microprocessor only understands binary. The sensor first sends the data to an analogue-to-digital converter. Then the digital data is sent to the microprocessor.
• Before the system is started, data will be stored in the microprocessor. This could be a single value, or more. The microprocessor takes the data from the sensor and compares it to its value, or values. If the sensor value is out of the stored range, than it knows that it needs an action is needed, and sends a signal to the actuator, which performs the action.
• Actuator is a mechanical part that causes another device or part to move.
• When considering a control or monitoring system you need to determine the inputs, processes, and outputs as you would in a computer program.
• Automation is the use of automated equipment in a process, e.g. a factory.
• When evaluating the use of automation, you can consider: initial cost, running cost, safety, replacing people’s jobs, continuous work all day every day, and precision.
• A robot is a machine that replicates human actions or movement.
• Robotics is an area of computer science that looks at the creation and use of robots.
• Programmable is a computer that will run the commands stored in it.
• Robots in medicine are used to perform procedures such as operations. If a surgeon is not present in the hospital, the robot can be controlled by them to perform the procedure. This means patients don’t need to wait for the procedure, and specialists are not required in every hospital. However, if there are errors in the programming, or someone gains access to the programs and changes them, the result can cause harm. There needs to be backup.
• Robots in agriculture mean that a farmer can be performing other actions, whilst the machines perform repetitive tasks which would have taken up their time. Can be carried out 24/7. However the upfront cost may be high, and maintenance will be required. Could replace a worker too.
• Robots in transport, is a self-driving car. This could improve safety because the robot can react faster than a person. It is an expensive up-front cost, and there is the threat that someone may access the program of a car and change it. Robots could help in factories, moving things that would be dangerous for humans. They will replace jobs, but also provide new jobs to run and maintain the system.
• Robots in industry don’t tire out, be more precise (not subject to human error). However, will replace people’s jobs, but will create jobs for people to maintain the robots, and the initial cost is very large.
• Robots in entertainment can be toys, for example. They are educational.
• Domestic robots are those who perform tasks around a home. The most common is a vacuum cleaner. Can save people time, however they still need monitoring, and cannot go up and down steps. But it can make sure it doesn’t miss spaces.
• Artificial intelligence (AI) looks at the creating of machines that can think and perform tasks a person would usually perform.
• AI could be image recognition, speech recognition, natural language (to receive command), computer games (to move elements or characters independently based on their environment), or diagnosis systems.
• The components of AI are: Collection of data, a program will need data input, maybe from users or sensors. A programmed set of rules, stored for the program to use to make decisions. The ability to reason, reasoning is an area of logic, where you have rules, and from these develop facts. And the ability to learn and adapt, this is a specialist area called machine learning.
• Machine learning is a computer program that can adapt its stored rules of processes. It can be supervised or unsupervised.
• An expert system is a system which attempts to replicate the knowledge of an expert.
• Knowledge base is a part of an expert system that stores the facts.
• Rule base is a part of an expert system that stores the rules based upon the knowledge.
• Interference engine is a part of an expert system that makes decisions.
• An expert system has four key features: a knowledge bas, a rule base, an interference engine, and the user interface.