comp

Automated system

A combination of hardware and software that works automatically without human intervention.

Sensors

Components that constantly send signals to a microprocessor through an Analog-to-Digital Converter (ADC) as input.

Microprocessor

The component that processes incoming signals and makes decisions.

Actuators

Components that execute commands from the microprocessor to make a physical change as output.

Distributed control system (DCS)

A powerful computer system that monitors and controls a process without human interaction.

Acoustic sensor

Measures sound ; used in security systems and for monitoring noise pollution.

Accelerometer

Measures acceleration, motion, and tilting ; used to trigger airbags on rapid deceleration and to switch between landscape and portrait views on a phone.

Flow sensor

Measures the flow rate of a liquid or gas ; used for checking leaks in pipes and in hospital inhalers.

Gas sensor

Detects gases like carbon monoxide or measures oxygen or CO2 levels in a greenhouse.

Humidity sensor

Measures the amount of water vapour ; used to monitor and control humidity in a greenhouse or factory.

Infrared sensor (active)

Detects motion by checking if an infrared beam is broken ; used in car windscreen wipers and intruder alarm systems.

Infrared sensor (passive)

Detects heat radiating from an object ; used to detect intruders by their body heat or to measure product temperature in an industrial freezer.

Level sensor

Measures the level of a liquid or material like powder ; used in car petrol tanks, water tanks, checking powder in medical tablets , and leak detection.

Light sensor

Measures light levels ; used for automatically turning on street lights or car headlights.

Magnetic field sensor

Measures changes in magnetic fields ; used in Anti-lock Braking Systems (ABS) where a microprocessor detects a signal change when a wheel locks up, rapidly applying and releasing brakes to prevent locking.

Moisture sensor

Monitors and controls moisture in soil or in factory food production.

pH sensor

Measures acidity ; used to monitor and control acidity levels in soil or during chemical processes.

Pressure sensor

Measures gas, liquid, or physical pressure ; used for measuring pressure within tires or pipes.

Proximity sensor

Detects the presence of a nearby object ; used in parking sensors and for detecting if a face is close to a smartphone for face unlock.

Temperature sensor

Measures temperature ; used in heating systems and controlling temperature in a swimming pool, greenhouse, or chemical process.

Advantages of automated systems

They work faster than humans without breaks , are safer for hazardous jobs and conditions , deliver more consistent results , and are cheaper in the long run.

Disadvantages of automated systems

They are initially expensive , can encounter unexpected conditions not considered during development , carry a risk of cyberattacks , and require expensive maintenance.

Robotics

A branch of computer science that includes the design, construction, and operation of robots.

Characteristics of robots

They possess a mechanical structure like a physical body, wheels, or motors , electrical components like sensors, microprocessors, and actuators , and they are fully programmable.

Independent robots

Autonomous robots that operate on their own and do not need human input.

Dependent robots

Robots that require human input to function, providing support without entirely replacing humans.

Web crawlers

Software robots that scan and categorize websites so search engines can recognize them.

Chatbots

Website programs designed to simulate and appear to have a conversation with a user.

Industrial robots advantages

They are much better suited to handling boring, repetitive tasks.

Industrial robots disadvantages

They struggle to handle unusual tasks without human intervention , and their use can lead to human unemployment and deskilling.

Transport robots advantages

They are safer because they remove human error and they drive more efficient routes, which is better for the environment, lowers fuel costs, and reduces traffic congestion.

Transport robots disadvantages

Their cameras and sensors require constant, rigorous maintenance to ensure safety.

Agricultural robots advantages

They are more accurate and are significantly less likely to cause physical damage to crops.

Agricultural robots disadvantages

They introduce a distinct risk of cyberattacks and lead to the deskilling of human workers.

Medical robots advantages

They allow for quicker surgical operations with fewer errors.

Medical robots disadvantages

They present a clear risk of cyberattacks and their physical structures are highly difficult to disinfect.

Domestic robots advantages

They free up human time to let people complete more interesting tasks and they can be operated entirely remotely.

Domestic robots disadvantages

They can suffer from short battery lives and often take longer to complete tasks than a human would.

Entertainment robots advantages

They vastly improve camera control and the execution of special effects in films.

Entertainment robots disadvantages

They are very expensive to implement and risk deskilling industry professionals.

Artificial intelligence (AI)

A branch of computer science involving the simulation of intelligent behaviors by computers.

Narrow AI

An AI category that shows superior performance compared to a human, but only within a specific, isolated task.

Strong AI

An AI category that demonstrates superior performance to humans across many different tasks.

Characteristics of AI

Includes the active collection of data , rules for using that data , the ability to reason , and the ability to learn and adapt over time.

Expert systems

A type of AI system designed to mimic human knowledge and experience.

Knowledge base

A core component of an expert system consisting of a collection of objects (facts) and attributes (traits defining an object).

Rule base

A core component of an expert system consisting of a collection of rules used to make conclusions.

Inference engine

The component of an expert system that examines the knowledge base for information that matches searches by applying logic rules.

Interface

The component of an expert system built for user interaction , allowing a user to input data to reach a conclusion.

How an expert system works

The user inputs data into the interface ; the inference engine compares this data to facts in the knowledge base using IF-THEN rules from the rule base ; if a match is found, the resulting conclusion is displayed back via the interface.

Benefits of expert systems

They provide highly consistent, completely unbiased results and allow individuals who are not experts in the field to utilize specialized knowledge.

Machine learning

A subset of AI where algorithms are trained and actively learn from past experiences.

How machine learning works

It allows the system to make independent decisions without being explicitly programmed to do so by acquiring data to solve new problems.

Machine learning uses

Commonly applied to automatically categorize incoming emails as spam or to recommend products online based on users with a similar buying history.