6 Automated and emerging technologies Flashcards
What is an automated system?
A system which performs actions without human interaction
Where might automated systems be used?
Heating or air-conditioning to flying aeroplanes and building items like cars
What are the main features of an automated system?
Sensors, a microprocessor, actuators
What do sensors do?
Capture data from the immediate environment
What does a microprocessor do?
Process the data from the sensors and determine if an action needs to be taken
What do actuators do?
Cause a movement
What is analogue data?
Real-world data which is continuous and can be any value within a range
What is digital data?
Discrete data stored as 1s and 0s
What does an analogue-to-digital converter do?
It converts analogue data to digital data
Where does a sensor send the data it reads?
To an analogue-to-digital converter
What data may already be stored in a microprocessor before an automated system is started?
A single value, multiple values like maximum and minimum ones or a whole range of values
What does the microprocessor do with the data sent to it?
The microprocessor compares the data sent to it with the stored value or values to determine the next step
What can the comparisons done by the microprocessor include?
Seeing if the read data is outside a range, greater or lower than a certain value, etc.
What does a microprocessor do if it determines an action needs to be taken involving movement?
It sends a signal to the actuator
For how long is the process of data collection, data processing and actuators causing movement repeated in an automated system?
The whole process is repeated until the system is turned off
What are examples of automated systems?
Automatic doors, automatic heaters, headlights and windscreen wipers which automatically activate if it gets too dark or starts raining, etc.
What is automation?
The use of automated equipment in a process
What are the main factors to consider in automation?
The initial cost, running cost, safety, replacement of people’s jobs, continuous work, precision
How high would be the initial cost of automation in the car manufacturing industry?
The initial cost would be high due to robot purchases and software needing to be developed
How high would the running cost of automation in the car manufacturing industry be?
The running could be high due to system maintenance costs, but it could perform actions more efficiently than humans and reduce employees needed, saving money long-term
How would safety be affected by automation in the car manufacturing industry?
The industry would be safer as robots could monitor their environment continuously and stop if there is danger whilst people can be distracted
How would automation in the car manufacturing industry affect people’s jobs?
Jobs the automated system now does would be lost, but more jobs would be made to maintain the system
How would precision and length of work in the car manufacturing industry be affected by automation?
An automated system would work all day every day, increasing car production, and human errors wouldn’t be made reducing faulty cars
How high would the initial cost of automation in a nuclear power plant be?
The initial cost would be high due to devices being purchased and the system needing to be developed
How high would the running cost of automation in a nuclear power plant be?
The running cost might be lower because fewer people are needed, but maintenance could be expensive
How would safety be affected by automation in a nuclear power plant?
There would be a lower risk of human error, increasing safety, and people wouldn’t need to work in dangerous places, increasing their safety
How would people’s jobs be affected by automation in a nuclear power plant?
Some jobs would be replaced for the functions the system does, but new jobs would be made to maintain the system
How would precision and length of work be affected by automation in a nuclear power plant?
An automated system would measure and perform actions with more precision and monitor the power plant continuously, causing fewer errors
How high would the initial cost of automation in a greenhouse be?
The initial cost may be high for the installation and programming of the system
How high would the running cost of automation in a greenhouse be?
Despite the cost for electricity and maintenance, as the system is small the running cost may not be high
How would automation in a greenhouse affect safety?
Safety may not be relevant as a greenhouse is likely not a dangerous place
How would automation in a greenhouse affect people’s jobs?
It might replace the jobs of people who monitored conditions, but this is unlikely to be a large number
How would automation in a greenhouse affect precision and length of work?
The system would be able to adapt as soon as there is a problem, and although precision isn’t as important it would allow readings to be more accurate and let instant changes be made
What is a robot?
A mechanical device that performs an action, usually one a human would perform
What is robotics?
An area of computer science which covers the design, construction and operation of robots
What are the possible ways a robot can be controlled?
It can be controlled by a person, automated, or a mixture of both
What are the parts of a robot?
A mechanical structure, sensors, microprocessors, actuators
What are the electrical components of a robot?
Sensors, microprocessors, actuators
What does it mean that robots are programmable?
A program can be written which the robot will follow
What are some areas robots can be used in?
Medicine, agriculture, transport, industry, entertainment, domestic uses
Is a drone controlled by a person or automated?
It can be either
Are machines that build components in industry controlled by people or automated?
They can be either, but are often automated
What are examples of robots being used in medicine?
Robot nurses and surgeon-controllable robots
What are the benefits of robot nurses?
Robot can interact with patients, saving medical staff time
What are the benefits of surgeon-controllable robots?
Patients don’t have to wait for a procedure and specialists don’t have to be physically present in every hospital
What are the drawbacks of robots being used in medicine?
Errors or malicious code alterations could cause harm, loss of connection could stop procedures, requiring backup systems
What are examples of robots being used in agriculture?
Automated tractors and machines using satellite navigation, robots planting seeds, removing weeds and adjusting environment plants grow in
What are the benefits of automated tractors and machines?
The farmer could perform other actions whilst the machines perform the repetitive tasks
What are the benefits of robots in general in agriculture?
Robots can complete tasks 24 hours a day, whilst a person may only work 8 hours a day
What are the drawbacks of robots in agriculture?
High initial cost, maintenance needed, workers’ jobs replaced
What are examples of robots being used in transport?
Self-driving cars, robots transporting things in factories
What are the benefits of self-driving cars?
Improved safety due to faster reaction times, no need for a driver
What are the benefits of robots transporting things in factories?
People kept away from transporting dangerous objects, more efficient, new jobs to run and maintain system
What are some of the drawbacks of self-driving cars?
Can be expensive initially, threat of malicious alteration of program
What are some of the drawbacks of robots being used to transport items in factories?
They replace jobs
What are some examples of robots being used in industry?
Robots used in car production lines, manage packing of items (putting biscuits into boxes), test products (check temperature), perform minute-size tasks (build circuits)
What are the benefits of robots being used in industry?
Continuous operation, no need for rest, greater precision, some new jobs created (smaller than in past)
What are some of the drawbacks of robots being used in industry?
High initial cost, job replacement
What are examples of robots being used in entertainment?
Toys (robot dogs), educational robots (build a robot, program functions, for child), drones
What are the benefits of robots being used in entertainment?
Allows people to engage with technology, sometimes learn about robot workings and introduced to programming
What are some of the drawbacks of robots being used in entertainment?
Potential high initial cost
Not in book
What are some examples of robots being used domestically (at home)?
Robot vacuum cleaners, robot lawnmowers
What are the benefits of robots being used domestically (at home)?
Saves people time
What are some of the drawbacks of robots being used domestically (at home)?
Still need monitorning, can’t go up and down steps, potential high initial cost
What are some of the benefits and drawbacks of drones?
Used to record videos (birds-eye view), but possible loss of contact can cause crash and injuries
What are some examples of robots being used in security?
Security robots, record what is happening, detect motion or sound, patrol an area and alert abnormalities
When was the Turing Test invented?
1950
Who developed the Turing Test?
Alan Turing
What is the Turing Test?
A test where a person converses with a computer programs and another person
How does a computer pass the Turing Test?
The person conversing with the human and other person must not be able to work out which is the computer
If a computer passes the Turing Test, what would this supposedly show?
It would supposedly show the computer can display intelligence
What is artificial intelligence (AI)?
A part of computer science which looks at creating programs to simulate human behaviour
What are areas within artificial intelligence (AI)?
Image recognition, speech recognition, natural language, computer games, diagnosis systems
What does artificial intelligence in natural language do?
Receive a command or instruction not in a set format and perform the required response
What does artificial intelligence in computer games do?
Move elements or characters independently based on the environment
What does artificial intelligence in diagnosis systems do?
It could give a medical diagnosis
Where are places natural language systems are used?
Smartphones, web browsers
What are the four key features of artificial intelligence (AI), and which one is optional?
Collection of data, set of programmed rules, ability to reason, ability to learn and adapt (optional)
