6.1-3 Automated Systems, Robotics and AI

Question 1

What is Artificial Intelligence?

Answer 1

• A branch of computer science dealing with the simulation of intelligent behaviour by a computer
• It is a collection of rules and data which gives a computer system the ability to reason, learn and adapt to external stimuli

Question 2

What is reasoning?

Answer 2

Reasoning is the ability to draw reasoned conlusions based on given data

Question 3

What is deducted reasoning?

Answer 3

Deductive reasoning is where a number of correct facts are built up to form a set of rules which can then be applied to other problems

Question 4

State 2 different types of AI system

Answer 4

Expert System
Machine Learning

Question 5

What is an an expert system?

Answer 5

A form of AI that has been developed to mimic a human’s knowledge and expertise

Question 6

Give 2 examples of where expert systems are used

Answer 6

• diagnosis of a patient’s illness
• tax and financial calculation
• logistics (efficient routing of parcel deliveries)
• strategy games, such as chess

Question 7

Stare some advantages of an expert system

Answer 7

• they offer a high level of expertise
• the results are consistent
• they have the ability to store vast amounts of ideas and facts
• it is possible for an expert system to have multiple expertise
• they provide unbiased reporting and analysis of the facts
• they have very fast response times (much quicker than a human expert)

Question 8

State some disadvantages of an expert system

Answer 8

• users of the expert system need considerable training
• the set up and maintenance costs are very high
• they can give ‘cold’ responses not appropriate in certain medical situations
• they are only as good as the information/facts entered into the system
• users sometimes make the very dangerous assumption that they are infallible.

Question 9

What are the 5 main parts of an expert system

Answer 9

• user interface
• knowledge base
• inference engine
• rules base
• explanation system

Question 10

In an expert system, what is meant by the user interface?

Answer 10

• The method by which the expert system interacts with a user.
• Interaction can be through dialogue boxes, command prompts or other input methods
• The questions being asked usually only have Yes/No answers and are based on the responses to previous questions.

Question 11

In an expert system, what is meant by the knowledge base?

Answer 11

• It is a repository of facts.
• It stores all the knowledge about an area of expertise obtained from a number of expert resources.
• It essentially contains a collection of objects and their attributes (facts about the objects)

Question 12

Explain why an expert system needs a knowledge base

Answer 12

It needs facts …
… to generate the rules
… to make the decisions

Question 13

In an expert system, what is meant by the inference engine?

Answer 13

• This is the main processing element of the expert system.
• It acts like a search engine examining the knowledge base for information/data that matches the queries.
• It is responsible for gathering information from the user by asking a series of questions and applying responses where neeeded

Question 14

In an expert system, what is meant by the rules base?

Answer 14

• A set of inference rules which are used by the inference engine to draw conclusions (the methods used closely follow human reasoning).
• They follow logical thinking, usually involving a series of ‘IF’ statements.

Question 15

In an expert system, what is meant by the explanation system?

Answer 15

Part of an expert system which informs the user of the reasoning behind its conclusions and recommendations

Question 16

What is meant by machine learning?

Answer 16

• A sub-set of AI in which algorithms are trained and learn from past experiences and examples
• A system can make predictions or decisions based on past scenarios.
• Able to offer fast and accurate outcomes due to powerful processing capability and ability to analyse large volumes of complex data

Question 17

How does machine learning differ from expert systems?

Answer 17

• aims to get to get machines to make decisions without being programmed
• aims to make machines learn through acquiring data so they can solve new problems

Question 18

What is meant by an automated system?

Answer 18

• A combination of software and hardware designed and programmed to work automatically without the need for any human intervention
• Often require monitoring

Question 19

What are typical components of an automated system?

Answer 19

• Sensors (takes readings from the surroundings)
• A microprocessor (processes data and controls any output)
• Actuators (involves output and controls motors, wheels etc..)

Question 20

An automated system may be classed as control. What is meant by this?

Answer 20

• The output from the computer or microprocessor can alter how the process is operating.
• It can change the value of the next input received e.g. switching off a heater or changing the speed of a pump

Question 21

An automated system may be classed as monitoring. What is meant by this?

Answer 21

• The computer or microprocessor will make no changes to the actual process.
• It will simply report the values and inform users of the status of the process being monitored

Question 22

State some advantages of automated systems

Answer 22

• Faster (actions can be taken quickly than human intervention)
• Safer (e.g. when operations are required in dangerous environments)
• Accurate (Very precise changes can be made that humans would find difficult)
• Cheraper (e.g. can be used to replace the workforce)
• Consistent (e.g. the same process can be repeated again and again in the exact same way)

Question 23

State some disadvantages of automated systems

Answer 23

• Expensive (the development and set up can cost a lot of money)
• Maintenance (e.g. require regular checks to ensure it is working correctly)
• Computerised systems are vulnerable to cyberatacks
• Inflexible (e.g. cannot respond to situations or conditions that have not been thought about )

Question 24

What is meant by robotics?

Answer 24

The branch of (computer) science that encompasses the design, construction and operation of robots

Question 25

What is a robot?

Answer 25

A mechanical device that can carry out tasks normally done by humans

Question 26

What are the 3 main characteristics of a robot?

Answer 26

1. Ability to sense their surroundings
   -> this is done via se_____ (such as light, pressure, temperature, acoustic, etc)
   -> all sensor data is sent to a microproccesor or computer
2. Have a degree of movement
   -> mechanical structures made up of many parts (e.g.motors, actuators)
   -> contain many electrical components to allow them to function
   -> they can make use of end effectors (different attachments for specific tasks)
3. They are programmable
   -> they have a ‘brain’ known as a controller that is programmable

Question 27

Give 2 examples of software robots

Answer 27

• Webcrawlers - these ‘robots’ roam the internet scanning websites, categorising them for search purposes)
• Chatbots - these are programs that pop up on websites that seem to enter some form of conversation with the web user

Question 28

Explain the difference between dependent and independent robots

Answer 28

Dependent: They supplement, rather than totally replace, the human activity (e.g. both humans and robots work together to produce a car).
Dependent: They have a human interface directly with the robot (e.g. via a control panel)
Independent: They can replace the human activity totally (no human :interaction is required)
Independent They have no direct human control (they are said to be autonomous e.g. self driving car)

Question 29

State some advantages of robots

Answer 29

• Cheaper running costs as less staff are required
• Perform repetitive tasks 24/7
• Perform precicion tasks without error
• Can work in hazardous environments
• Improves safety as human error is removed
• Capable of lifting heavy objects

Question 30

State some disadvantages of robots

Answer 30

Expensive to purchase / install / maintain
Require skilled engineers to operate / maintain
Loss of jobs for human workers
Require power source
Restrited by programming and/or design
May be limited as they can perform relatively few tasks