2. Sensors in Automated Systems

Automated systems use sensors to gather data and feed it back to the processor. The following video together with first from Linn Systems, show a wide range of sensors being used.

 

Dangerous Places & Importance of Sensors Click to Go Larger Screen

.Many automated systems are used in places where its dangerous for people to go, like:-

• a nuclear Power Station.
• spray paint workshops
• Space
• Dealing with bombs, chemical fires etc

The video shows part of the control system of a power station.

It shows that for decisions to be taken either by people or by automated systems information is needed, and this information comes from sensors

 

 

 

How Machines Think!

Click on the button below to get an idea of how machines think!

 

 

Lost in Translation

Analogue Information

There is a major difficulty in transferring information to computers. Most information like sound and light is continuously variable. We go gradually from very loud or bright all the way to very quiet or dim. This kind of information can be described as analogue .

 

Digital Information

Computer can only understand digital information. If we were to draw a diagram of digital information it would look like.

 

 

An Analogue to Digital Interface (A to D)

An A to D converter is an interface that changes analogue signals into digital form.
It does this by sampling the incoming analogue signal thousands of times per second and changing the samples into digital numbers.

 

Click to see more

 

A to D converters are used to change the analogue signals coming from the magnetic sensors attached to the mobile robots in the programme into the digital form that the controlling processor can accept and understand.

A D to A converter is an interface that changes digital information to analogue form, reversing the process of an A to D converter.

The D to A converter is used when the processor is sending signals out, for example, to control the speed of a mobile robot or to change the direction of its wheels.

 

 

What you have to do!

Either in a new Word Document or in your Brain. Under a sub heading Sensors and Feedback complete the following tasks after watching the video above:

1. Explain why automated systems are used in a the nuclear power station.
2. Explain the role of sensors used in the nuclear power station.
3. Describe what device that has to be between a computer and a robotic arm

 

 

What you should now be able to do!

• Describe the role of sensors in Automated Systems 

• Provide several examples of sensor types and think of situations where they might be used.

• Describe what is meant by Analogue information.

• Explain why Analogue Information has to be converted to Digital Information

• Explain the role of a Digital to Analogue converter.

.

 

Continue to 3. Stationary Robots