7. Controlling Automated Systems

 

Automated systems are controlled using software.

This controlling software contains instructions about what an automated system has to do.

Some programming like the one shown on the right can be hard to do and learn. But recent software like Blender shown in the video below is much much easier.

 

 

 

Getting the Best out of your Robot! Click to Go Larger Screen

 

 

Control Language

 

The software or programmes that control robots are written in a control language. Control languages all have features that include:

• special commands for controlling robot movements, and
• for specifying the degrees of rotation of robots arms, and
• special input/output facilities.

Control languages have instructions that a programmer can use to tell a robot which way to turn, how high to lift up the gripper, how far to travel or even to control the speed of the motor.

 

Embedded Systems

Embedded systems are found in machines. An embedded system is a single processor that has a few simple functions to carry out. Examples of embedded systems include:

• Modern car engines
• Mobile phones and other electronic
  equipment such as:
• Digital cameras and
• Games consoles.

An embedded system gives the user a simple control interface such as a touch screen with a simple menu and/or a couple of control buttons.

Embedded systems are based on the use of microprocessors such as the Intel Pentium’s‘M’ processor, which is specially designed for low-power embedded systems

Programs are stored on ROM Chips. While more expensive, that storing the programs on disk, they retain the program even when the power is switch off and load faster than programs from a disk.

 

 

 

What you have to do!

Either in a new Word Document or in your Brain. Under a sub heading Controlling Automated Systems complete the following tasks after watching each of the videos above:

1. Explain how all automated systems are controlled.
2. Provide a list of the main features of Control Languages used to control automated systems.
3. Explain the advantages and disadvantages of using Read Only Software.
4. What wold you have to do, if you wanted to upgrade ROM based software?.  
    

 

 

What you should now be able to do!

• Explain how automated systems are controlled.

• Give the main features of Control Languages

• Explain the difference between programmable robots and embedded software on ROM Chips.

• Give the advantages and disadvantage of storing software on ROM Chips.

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Continue to 8. Intelligent Robots?