Industrial and Commercial Applications

of
ICT

Takoradi International School – ICT – compiled by Mr Annan 1

Automated systems
Automated systems are used in everyday life.
Here are some examples used at home:
in a washing machine,
in an automatic camera,
in a central heating programmer.

Automated systems are also used in industry: in the

motor industry with cars manufactured by robots
on an assembly line, circuit boards can be
assembled by robots in an electronics factory
Takoradi International School – ICT – compiled by Mr Annan 2
 The need for industrial applications

Speed
Robots carry out processes faster than humans and are more efficient
because they can work long hours without a break.

Hazardous environment
Robots have the ability to work in environments that are dangerous to
human workers:
• nuclear power stations
• laying and repairing oil pipelines
• bomb disposal

Repetitive tasks
There are tasks that are often boring and repetitive but robots don't get
tired or make mistakes. They continue to work accurately.
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Efficiency
Robots can work longer hours and do not require the breaks
that human workers need. This makes the robots more
efficient and means that the company can compete with its
competitors more readily.

Accuracy
Robots have the ability to carry out the same task over and
over again without making mistakes or getting tired or bored.

Adaptability
Robots are very adaptable and have the ability to do different
jobs. In doing this the program and the tool (end effector) of
the robot would need to be changed.
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Hardware and Software - Sensors
Sensors
A sensor is a device which can detect physical data from
its surroundings and then this data is input into a
computer system. Examples of sensors:
• light
• heat
• movement Feedback
• bump The signal which the sensor sends back to the
computer is called feedback. The computer then
• pressure makes a decision based on the feedback it has
received.
• temperature For example
changing the traffic lights at a junction
• sound switching the street lights on or off
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 Hardware and Software - Robots
Stationary and mobile robots
A robot can either be:
• Stationary; which remains in the same place all
the time. For example, a robot used on a
factory assembly line.

• Mobile, which has wheels attached or sits on

tracks, allowing it to move about. For example,
a robot used for moving machine parts in the
factory.
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Anatomy of common robots
Some parts of a robot are similar to the limbs of
a human. Robots have a waist, shoulder, elbow,
wrist, and tool.

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Motor
Each part of the robot's anatomy can be moved by the use of a motor.

Tools
This is what is attached to the end of the robots arm. For example:
• gripper
• suction cup
• screwdriver
• hammer
• spray paint
• magnet welding gun

Programmable
Robots can be pre-programmed to carry out a set of instructions by:
• a programmer writing a program conventionally and storing or downloading it into the
robot
• programming by example, (lead-through programming) where the operator leads the
robot through a task and the sequence of operations is stored as a program to be
repeated again and again
Mobile robots usually have their software in ROM chips.

Takoradi International School – ICT – compiled by Mr Annan 8

Interface
An interface is a piece of hardware that allows
the device to communicate with the computer.
For example, computers use digital signals, and
speakers use analogue signals. A sound card can
change digital signals from the computer into
analogue signals that the speakers use to play
sounds

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Guides - light and magnetic
There are two different ways of guiding mobile robots around
factories:

Light
• white line is painted on the factory floor
• robot shines a light onto the floor following the line
• light is reflected back and picked up by light sensors

Magnetic
• a wire is buried in the factory floor
• sensors detect the magnetic field in the factory floor
If the robot goes off track then less of the magnetic field will be
picked up by the sensors. This feedback to the computer will make
it send new signals to get the robot back on track.
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Real time processing
• When a robot with sensors accidently hits
something it must react immediately - this is
called real time processing.

High level instructions

• The control language which the robots follow
is made up of special high level instructions to
make the programming of the robots easier.

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A to D and D to A converters
• An analogue to digital converter (A to D) is
used to convert real-life signals to digital
computer signals, 1s and 0s. Sound cards and
microphones are examples of A to Ds.
• When a computer signal needs to be turned
into a real-life signal, such as sound, a digital
to analogue converter (D to A) is used, such
as speakers.

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Control language
Specifically written for robots, these tell the robot the instructions that they
have to follow.

ROM software
Mobile robots cannot be physically attached to a computer so their control
languages are stored in ROM (Read Only Memory).

Advantages:
• The program will load much faster
• The control program cannot be deleted by mistake
• The robot won’t get infected by viruses

Disadvantages:
• It's much more expensive
• If the control program has to be changed then so does the ROM chip
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Embedded systems
• An embedded system is a small processor
(computer) that is inside a large piece of
equipment. A washing machine is an example
of this.

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Intelligent robots
• They have many sensors, large processors and
a large memory in order to show that they
have intelligence. The robots will learn from
their mistakes and be able to adapt to any
new situation that may arise.
• A intelligent robot can be programmed with
its own expert system.
For example, if a factory floor is blocked with
fallen boxes. An intelligent robot will remember
this and take a different route.
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 Implications of Industrialisation
Retraining
Businesses are changing and so are the jobs that workers are
carrying out. This means that people will need to be retrained in
order to carry out different jobs.

Change in nature of job: People will become unemployed as the

company will not need as many people in the automated
business. People will need retrained.

Increased leisure time: Factory workers used to have to work

long shifts so the work could get done. Since automation, they
will probably have less time working and more time with their
families and for leisure activities.
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Industrial automation
A company, after consultation with a Systems Analyst, decides if it is
worthwhile automating how they make their components.

Safety precautions
To prevent the work force from getting hurt by the mobile robots.
• warning signs could be put up
• robots could have flashing lights or make a noise
• Sensors could be attached to the robots stopping them immediately

Design of the workplace

Factories designed for robots will look very different from those for a human
workforce.
• less lighting and heating will be required
• fewer canteen facilities and toilets
• light or magnetic guidance systems may have been installed for the robots

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Modern factory
Factories now have very few humans working in
them. Shelves are stacked much higher where
only mobile robots can access to them.

Need for system analysis

A systems analyst advises the company about
whether changing from a manual system to an
automated system is worthwhile. The systems
analyst observes current practices, sends out
questionnaires and interviews the workers
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High initial costs
The initial cost of purchasing all the hardware and software that
would be required to automate the factory is very high. However
running costs may be cheaper, which would benefit the factory.
Staff would also need retrained.

Long term savings

The factory would not require as many workers therefore not as
many wages would be paid out.

Replacement costs
The company would need to pay to replace computer hardware
and software as these changes and wear out. The company would
need to keep up with their competitors to remain competitive in
the business market.
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