TOPIC 7: CONTROL

COMPUTER CONTROL

Computer control is the use of a computer/microprocessor to monitor and control a

non-computer process/device.
In many devices/processes to be controlled, a quantity is measured to enable its
control. Often you want the quantity (e.g. temperature) to stay constant at some fixed
value. Consider what you need to do to control a quantity e.g. temperature (it could be
any physical quantity).
1. You need to know what the temperature is. Thus, the first thing you have to do is to
measure the temperature.
2. You have to compare the measured temperature with the desired
temperature(set/reference point). Is it too high? Is it too low? How much higher
(lower) is it compared to what you want?
3. You should take control action.There are numerous ways you can control the
temperature: you can turn a controller ON or OFF, you can reduce the fuel producing
the temperature.
CONTROL SYSTEM

 A computer control system is like many other systems and is

made up of three parts:
 CONTROL SYSTEM

Inputs
Sensors capture analog data, such as temperature, pressure, light. This is converted to
digital by a AD (analog-to-digital) converter, so that it can be processed by a computer.

Processing
The microcontroller or CPU makes a decision on the basis of the data input. If some
threshold is reached, then some action is taken.

Outputs
The system affects the outside world in some way, e.g. turning on a heater, moving a
robot arm, adjusting the speed of a motor. The generic term for the mechanism by
which a control system acts on its environment is an actuator.
 PARTS OF CONTROL SYSTEM

 Input sensors connected to the computer are used to

monitor conditions in the process being controlled. Data from
the sensors are sent to the computer
 A control program tells the computer what to do after the
data received is analysed and sends signals to output devices.
 The computer (microprocessor) makes decision about
whether an output signal is needed to switch on or off some
part of the process’s system. This is usually done through an
actuator
 ADC and DAC are usually involved to convert signals between
the sensors and the processor.
 This procedure goes on continuously
GENERAL COMPUTER CONTROL SET UP

CONTROLLED analog
ACTUATOR PROCESS data from
ENVIROMENT sensors

DAC ADC

COMPUTER
With control
program
Control signals
 RANGE OF CONTROL SYSTEMS

Centralized control systems use a computer/processor /microchip to control the

movement of an object. Control systems exist in all areas of life such as:
 Automatic doors
These systems should
 heating systems be examined in terms of input,
 taxi meters processing and output
 Elevators
 washing machines
 process control (automation in factories)
 Device drivers
 Domestic robots
 GPS
 Traffic lights
 USES OF MICROPROCESSORS IN CONTROL
SYSTEMS.

A microprocessor is a computing engine assembled in one chip. It

performs all the calculations and data processing of the controlling
unit. Thus the control program is executed bye microprocessor. It is
advantageous to use computer control for the following reasons:
 computers can respond very rapidly to change.
 systems can run 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
 control systems can operate in places that humans would find
dangerous or awkward.
 outputs are consistent and error free.
 computers can process data quickly and machines can operate
faster than humans.
 USES OF MICROPROCESSORS IN CONTROL
SYSTEMS

There are also several disadvantages.

 The software for the control system is specialist and
may cost a lot of money to develop
 If the computer malfunctions the system will not work
 If there is a power cut the system will not work
 The computer can’t react to unexpected events like a
human could. It can only respond in the way it has
been programmed to.
 It can cause some concern if total control for a system
and the decisions are handed over to a computer.
THE ROLE OF SENSORS IN CONTROL

Sensors are used to measure physical quantities such as temperature, light, pressure,
sound, and humidity. They send signals to the processor.
For example:
 A security alarm system may have an infrared sensor which sends a signal when the
beam is broken.
 A heat sensitive sensor in the corner of a room may detect the presence of a
person.
 Temperature sensors could be used to control the heating in a large building.
 Magnetic sensors are used to detect metal and can be placed in roads to monitor
traffic flow.
 Other physical quantities that can be transmitted directly to the computer's
processor include: rainfall/water levels, radiation level, pH level, oxygen level
 OUTPUT TRANSDUCERS

 A control system typically comprises of a computer or

microprocessor, a control program which handles data from
sensors and sends signals to output devices and an interface
box to convert signals between the sensors and the
processor.
 The output devices tend to be actuators which can control
real world events. These actuators are output transducers
(device that converts one type of energy to another is. Both
sensors and actuators are transducers)
 Some examples of actuators:
 THE ROLE OF FEEDBACK CONTROL
SYSTEMS
Feedback occurs when the outputs from a control system
change is allowed to change the inputs, usually to keep the
system in a stable state. It ensures that a system operates within
set criteria or constraints by enabling system output to affect
subsequent system input thus allowing conditions to be
automatically adjusted.
 FEEDBACK EXAMPLE

Consider a control system that has to maintain a

constant level in a water tank
1. water level falls too low
2. sensor detects water level is too low
3. valve opened to let water in
4. sensor detects water level is too high
5. valve opened to let water out
This process will run indefinitely
 SOCIAL AND ETHICAL IMPACT OF
EMBEDDED SYSTEMS
Convenience and improved safety
Computer control is much more accurate and safe because computers don’t forget to
carry out an action e.g. a human can forget to turn off a cooker when food is cooked but
a microwave will not forget to go off. Computer chips in cars improve fuel economy and
control several parts of the car, including warning lights.
Deskilling and retraining
Embedded devices can replace humans at some technical level causing deskilling and
sometimes job losses. In some cases those personnel may need retraining and higher
education to fit into other jobs. For instance not all car engineers are able to repair
electronic cars with chips because it basically requires a degree in electrical engineering to
be able to repair a car that has a computer chip if the problem is the chip.
 SOCIAL AND ETHICAL IMPACT OF
EMBEDDED SYSTEMS

Crime investigation and security.

Embedded devices like CCTV can help capture scenes at a place and
hence assist the police in crime investigation since these systems can
store huge data that can be searched. The presence of CCTV alone can
deter criminals and also make people feel secure.
Privacy of individuals
Systems which automatically capture personal data and actions of
individuals e.g. biometric systems and CCTV can infringe on the privacy
rights of individuals as data protection principles stipulate that personal
data collection must always involve an aware and informed data subject.
 SOCIAL AND ETHICAL IMPACT OF
EMBEDDED SYSTEMS

 Reliability and Integrity

Some systems may fail with the use of microchips. Because these chips are used,
repairing the device or machine is much more difficult.
 Security
There is a security issue regarding the use of embedded systems as these systems
may have access to important information like credit card numbers etc. making it
possible for potential hackers to access this information.
 Over-dependence on computers
When people begin to rely on the use of IT in their everyday life, they sometimes
become addicted to it and need it. This causes some people to perform less tasks
than they could have. Certain tasks can be performed by computers, including tasks
that could have been better by a human than a machine.
DISTRIBUTED SYSTEMS

Component-1 … Component-n Component-1 … Component-n

Middleware Middleware

Network OS Network OS

Hardware Hardware

Host-1 Host-2
Network
Component-1 … Component-n Component-1 … Component-n

Middleware Middleware

Network OS Network OS

Hardware Hardware

Host-n Host-3
 DISTRIBUTED SYSTEMS

A distributed system is a collection of networked autonomous hosts which execute

software components and operate a distribution middleware that enables
components to coordinate their activities.
A distributed system will have components executing across a number of hosts to
accomplish a task.
CENTRALIZED vs DISTRIBUTED SYSTEMS

Centralized Systems
 Centralized systems have non-autonomous components
 Centralized systems are often built using homogeneous technology
 Multiple users share the resources of a centralized system at all times
 Centralized systems have a single point of control.
 Centralized system have a single point of failure.
Distributed Systems
 Distributed systems have autonomous components
 Distributed systems may be built using heterogeneous technology
 Distributed system components may be used exclusively
 Distributed systems are executed in concurrent processes
 Distributed systems have multiple points of failure
 ADVANTAGES OF DISTRIBUTED SYSTEMS

Performance: very often a collection of processors can provide

higher performance and better price/performance ratio than a
centralized computer.
Improved Reliability and availability: if some of the machines
crash, the system can survive.
Scalability: as requirements on processing power grow, new
machines can be added incrementally
Inherent distribution: Some applications involve spatially
separated machines and so distributed system is a logical option.
Potential cost reductions: distributed system cost less than
their centralized counterparts as microprocessors offer a better
price/performance than mainframes
DISADVANTAGES OF DISTRIBUTED SYSTEMS

Security problems: sharing generates the problem of data security.

Difficulty of developing distributed software: how should

operating systems, programming languages and applications look like?

Networking problems: several problems are created by the

network infrastructure, which have to be dealt with: loss of messages,
overloading, unavailability
 AUTONOMOUS AGENTS

An autonomous agent is an intelligent agent operating on an

owner’s behalf but without any interference of that
ownership entity. It refers to an entity that makes its own
choices about how to act in its environment without any
influence from a leader. The autonomous agent is usually part
of a larger system.
Examples include:
 intelligent agents
 autonomous robots
 software agents
 some computer viruses
FEATURES OF AUTONOMOUS AGENTS

Autonomy
Agents can select the task themselves (based on priorities or goal-directed search)
without human intervention.
Reactive behavior
Agent senses the environment in which it is, and decides what to do, reacting on its
perceptions.
Concurrency/sociality
Agents can interact with other agents through communication, in different modes:
coordination, cooperation, competition.
Persistence
The code describing an agent runs continuously like a process, and is not executed on
demand.