Standard Grade Standard Grade ComputingComputing

Automated SystemsAutomated Systems

What is an Automated SystemWhat is an Automated System

When computers are used to When computers are used to control a system consisting of control a system consisting of machinery and equipment.machinery and equipment.

Examples of Automated Examples of Automated SystemsSystems

washing machinewashing machine central heating systemcentral heating system video recordervideo recorder microwave ovenmicrowave oven controlling machinery in a factorycontrolling machinery in a factory traffic light controltraffic light control aircraft guidanceaircraft guidance

Why use Automated Systems?Why use Automated Systems?

faster than a humansfaster than a humans do boring and repetitive jobsdo boring and repetitive jobs accurate - don’t make mistakesaccurate - don’t make mistakes efficient – don’t need breaksefficient – don’t need breaks can be used in dangerous situationscan be used in dangerous situations flexible - can be programmed to do flexible - can be programmed to do

different tasks different tasks

Stationary RobotsStationary Robots

Stay in one place all the timeStay in one place all the time e.g. used on factory assembly linese.g. used on factory assembly lines Control programs are stored on disc or tapeControl programs are stored on disc or tape Can be reprogrammed to do a different Can be reprogrammed to do a different

tasktask

Anatomy of a Robot ArmAnatomy of a Robot Arm

Some robots have parts that Some robots have parts that resemble human limbsresemble human limbs

A jointed robot arm has aA jointed robot arm has a• waistwaist• shouldershoulder• elbowelbow• wristwrist• hand (specialised to suit the robot’s hand (specialised to suit the robot’s

task)task)

Waist

Shoulder

Elbow

Wrist

Degrees of FreedomDegrees of Freedom

The number of The number of degrees of freedomdegrees of freedom is the number of ways the arm can is the number of ways the arm can move.move.

To work in three dimensions the arm To work in three dimensions the arm must have at least three degrees of must have at least three degrees of freedom.freedom.

The human arm has eight degrees of The human arm has eight degrees of freedom.freedom.

Degrees of FreedomDegrees of Freedom

ROTATE BASE OF ARM PIVOT BASE OF ARM BEND ELBOW

WRIST UP AND DOWN WRIST LEFT AND RIGHT ROTATE WRIST

End EffectorsEnd Effectors

The ‘hand’ of the robot arm is specialised The ‘hand’ of the robot arm is specialised to the task the robot is programmed to to the task the robot is programmed to do.do.

The ‘hand’ could be aThe ‘hand’ could be a• grippergripper• paint spray gunpaint spray gun• welding electrodewelding electrode• suction capsuction cap• paint stripperpaint stripper• magnetmagnet

Mobile RobotsMobile Robots

Robots which move are called Robots which move are called mobilemobile robots. robots.

The robot Dante walks into volcanoes. In 1994, NASA, Carnegie Mellon University and the Alaskan Volcano Observatory used satellite and Internet connections to manoeuvre Dante into the active crater of Mt. Spur, an Alaskan volcano 90 miles west of Anchorage.

Mobile RobotsMobile Robots NomadNomad is a four wheeled is a four wheeled

robot that has been robot that has been looking for asteroids in looking for asteroids in Antarctic. Antarctic.

Nomad was built to Nomad was built to explore the Antarctic in explore the Antarctic in search of new meteorite search of new meteorite samples in January 2000. samples in January 2000.

Nomad spent nearly two Nomad spent nearly two weeks in the Arctic frost, weeks in the Arctic frost, examining over 100 examining over 100 indigenous rocks and indigenous rocks and ultimately classifying ultimately classifying seven as bona-fide seven as bona-fide meteorites.meteorites.

Automated Guided VehiclesAutomated Guided Vehicles

Remote-operated VehiclesRemote-operated Vehicles

Underwater ROV’s

Computer Aided DesignComputer Aided Design

BuildingsBuildings CarsCars MotorwaysMotorways Mobile PhonesMobile Phones Circuit BoardsCircuit Boards ProcessorsProcessors

Benefits of CADBenefits of CAD

Easier to produce complex drawingsEasier to produce complex drawings Making changes to design is easierMaking changes to design is easier Can make multiple copiesCan make multiple copies Can use library shapesCan use library shapes

CAD HardwareCAD Hardware

High resolution High resolution monitormonitor

Powerful processorPowerful processor High capacity High capacity

backing storagebacking storage Graphics tabletGraphics tablet Graphics plotterGraphics plotter

Computer Aided ManufactureComputer Aided Manufacture

Use of computers to control Use of computers to control machinery in the production processmachinery in the production process

Car manufactureCar manufacture Fabric cutting in making clothesFabric cutting in making clothes Fitting components to circuit boardsFitting components to circuit boards

CADCAMCADCAM

Objects are designed using CADObjects are designed using CAD Design is fed to the controlling Design is fed to the controlling

computercomputer Robots and machines assemble the Robots and machines assemble the

productproduct

Benefits of CADCAMBenefits of CADCAM

Faster processFaster process More accurate processMore accurate process Less waste Less waste Increases productivityIncreases productivity Higher quality end productHigher quality end product

Effects of CADCAMEffects of CADCAM

Machines have replaced peopleMachines have replaced people Fewer jobsFewer jobs Remaining jobs have become Remaining jobs have become

deskilleddeskilled More jobs for computer programmers More jobs for computer programmers

and engineersand engineers

SimulationSimulation

A computer mimics a real world A computer mimics a real world activityactivity

Flying a planeFlying a plane Driving a carDriving a car Crashing a carCrashing a car Performing surgeryPerforming surgery Computer gamesComputer games

Virtual RealityVirtual Reality

The user is immersed in the The user is immersed in the computer generated worldcomputer generated world

Virtual reality headsets/helmetsVirtual reality headsets/helmets Sensory glovesSensory gloves

Intelligent RobotsIntelligent Robots

Have a range of sensorsHave a range of sensors Mimic the human senses and Mimic the human senses and

functionsfunctions Hear : microphoneHear : microphone See : sonar beams / optical sensorsSee : sonar beams / optical sensors Feel : tactile/pressure sensorsFeel : tactile/pressure sensors Walk : Human-like legsWalk : Human-like legs

AsimoAsimo

Robots in the FutureRobots in the Future

Hovering the houseHovering the house IroningIroning

Open Loop ControlOpen Loop Control

Control computer

Control Information

Closed Loop ControlClosed Loop Control

Control computer

Traffic Sensor

Feedback from sensor

Control Information

SensorsSensors

A sensor detects physical quantities A sensor detects physical quantities e.g. heat, and provides this input to e.g. heat, and provides this input to the controlling computer.the controlling computer.

Types of SensorsTypes of Sensors

There are sensors to detectThere are sensors to detect• heatheat• lightlight• collisionscollisions• proximityproximity• magnetic fieldsmagnetic fields• pressurepressure

Analogue SignalsAnalogue Signals

Most electrical signals are Most electrical signals are analogueanalogue signals. signals. Analogue signals vary continuously over time.Analogue signals vary continuously over time. They can have any value between the upper They can have any value between the upper

and lower limits.and lower limits.

Digital SignalsDigital Signals

Computers can only work with Computers can only work with digital signals.digital signals.

Digital signals have only two Digital signals have only two values - on or off.values - on or off.

Signal ConvertersSignal Converters

A computer is connected to a device by a A computer is connected to a device by a circuit called an circuit called an interfaceinterface..

The interface must be able to convert the The interface must be able to convert the computer’s digital signals to analogue signals computer’s digital signals to analogue signals if required.if required.

This is done by a This is done by a digital to analogue digital to analogue converter.converter.

Signals can be changed in the other direction Signals can be changed in the other direction by anby an analogue to digital converter. analogue to digital converter.

AA transducer transducer is a device which changes a is a device which changes a physical input e.g. heat, pressure or light into physical input e.g. heat, pressure or light into an analogue signalan analogue signal..

AD ConverterAD Converter

Analogue to Digital Converter

Processor

Sensor+

(transducer)

DA ConverterDA Converter

Digital to Analogue Converter

Device

Processor

Teaching RobotsTeaching Robots

Programming by Example (Programming by Example (lead-throughlead-through))• a human guides the robota human guides the robot• the positional sensors in the robot tell the the positional sensors in the robot tell the

computer about the movement of each jointcomputer about the movement of each joint• the robot’s actuators (motors) repeat the the robot’s actuators (motors) repeat the

stored sequence of movements.stored sequence of movements.

Teaching RobotsTeaching Robots

Programming RobotsProgramming Robots• a programmer works out the whole a programmer works out the whole

sequence of movements and describes sequence of movements and describes them in a them in a high level languagehigh level language

• writing a new program will enable the robot writing a new program will enable the robot to do a different task.to do a different task.

Control LanguagesControl Languages Computer programs are always written Computer programs are always written

in a programming language.in a programming language. You have learned to program in You have learned to program in Visual Visual

BasicBasic.. Most robots are programmed to move Most robots are programmed to move

using a special using a special control languagecontrol language.. They use meaningful commands like They use meaningful commands like

forward, right, left, wait, grasp, upforward, right, left, wait, grasp, up and and down down which relate to the robot which relate to the robot world.world.

Control ProgramsControl Programs

Disc/TapeDisc/Tape Stationary robots may have the Stationary robots may have the

control program stored on disc or control program stored on disc or tape.tape.

Can be changed easily.Can be changed easily.

Control ProgramsControl Programs

ROM ChipsROM Chips Mobile robots are more likely to have Mobile robots are more likely to have

the program stored on a ROM chip.the program stored on a ROM chip. Chips are more expensiveChips are more expensive More permanentMore permanent Give a faster start upGive a faster start up

Social ImplicationsSocial Implications

DisadvantagesDisadvantages• workers will lose their jobs.workers will lose their jobs.• Some jobs may become de-Some jobs may become de-

skilled and offer less job skilled and offer less job satisfactionsatisfaction

Social ImplicationsSocial Implications AdvantagesAdvantages

• workers can be retrained to do more workers can be retrained to do more interesting and skilled jobs.interesting and skilled jobs.

• fewer people work in dangerous fewer people work in dangerous factory conditions.factory conditions.

• workers who did boring jobs will have workers who did boring jobs will have more leisure time.more leisure time.

• jobs will increase in the computing jobs will increase in the computing and leisure industries.and leisure industries.

Technical ImplicationsTechnical Implications

SafetySafety• moving parts of machine must be covered.moving parts of machine must be covered.• robot vehicles have sensors to detect if robot vehicles have sensors to detect if

anything is in the wayanything is in the way• they can be programmed to move slowly so they can be programmed to move slowly so

that people can get out of their waythat people can get out of their way• people are kept out of some areas of the people are kept out of some areas of the

factoryfactory• robot arms etc. should only operate when an robot arms etc. should only operate when an

item is in positionitem is in position

Economic ImplicationsEconomic Implications

Automated Systems are Automated Systems are Capital IntensiveCapital Intensive• very expensive to installvery expensive to install• but don’t demand wage risesbut don’t demand wage rises• don’t require lunch breaksdon’t require lunch breaks• don’t require canteens and toilet facilitiesdon’t require canteens and toilet facilities• money will be saved in the long termmoney will be saved in the long term

Factories used to all be Factories used to all be Labour IntensiveLabour Intensive• large number of workers requiredlarge number of workers required

Increased ProductivityIncreased Productivity• more goods manufactured in the same time for more goods manufactured in the same time for

the same costthe same cost