Control System Past Questions [159 marks]

1.

A temperature sensor is used in an automatic washing machine to help

maintain the temperature of the water.

Outline the use of one other type of sensor used in an automatic

washing machine.

[2]

2.

Describe the role of feedback in a system that uses sensors and a

microprocessor to control the temperature of a room.

[4]

3.

Input devices that detect cars approaching a crossroads are connected

to a microprocessor.

(a.i)

Identify two types of sensor that can be used to detect approaching

cars.

[2]

(a.ii)

Outline why sensors are appropriate input devices in this situation.

[2]

(b)

Suggest the type of memory that could be used to store the control
program in the microprocessor.

[2]

The traffic lights at the crossroads are also connected to a

microprocessor. A person who wishes to cross the road presses a button
at a traffic light. This causes an interrupt.
 (c)

[N/A]

[[N/A]]

(c.i)

Outline what is meant by an interrupt.

[2]

(c.ii)

Explain how the microprocessor can deal with this interrupt.

[3]

Cameras are installed on the top of the traffic lights at the crossroads.

(d)

[N/A]

[[N/A]]

(d.i)

Outline one benefit of monitoring the traffic with cameras.

[2]

(d.ii)

Outline one concern about monitoring the traffic with cameras.

[2]

4.

Smart control systems can manage the temperature within a house.

(a)

Outline the steps involving the sensor, processor and output transducer
to manage the temperature in the house.

[5]
(b)

Describe the role of feedback in this control system.

[2]

(c)

The smart control system is managed by an operating system.

[[N/A]]

(c.i)

Describe one function of an operating system.

[2]
(c.ii)

Outline one reason why a dedicated operating system would be used.

[2]

(d)

Compare and contrast a centralized control system with a distributed

control system for managing the temperature of a house.

[4]
5.

A company is planning to transform its office building into a smart

building. Among other things, a smart building can control the opening
and closing of its doors.

(a)

Outline two other operations that can be controlled by a smart building.

[4]
Sensors, processors and output transducers are vital components of a
smart building. They play an important role in the collection and
management of data.

(b)

Explain how a smart building can control the opening and closing of all
its doors. You should refer to sensors, processors and output
transducers.

[4]

An operating system has a significant role in a smart building system.

(c.i)

Identify two functions of this operating system.

[2]
(c.ii)

Suggest one technique this operating system might use to determine

when a hardware device needs attention.

[2]

(d)

Explain why transforming the building into a smart building will be

beneficial for the company.

[3]
6.

Cars have many automated features to improve the driving experience.

One example is the use of headlights that automatically switch on and
off.

(a)

State one input device used by the automated headlights.

[1]

Some cars have adaptive cruise control. This uses RADAR technology
and a processor to ensure the car stays the same distance away from
the car in front.

(b)

Explain how the interaction between the inputs, processing and the
outputs of the feedback loop ensure the car stays the same
distance away from the car in front.
 [6]

A system with many functions operating independently could be

managed using either centralized or decentralized processing.

(c)

Discuss the use of centralized and decentralized processing in the

context of control systems such as those involved in the operation
of motor vehicles.

[5]
 As vehicles become fully autonomous (self-driving), ethical
considerations must be taken into account when designing software.

(d)

Explain one ethical concern that must be considered in the

development of autonomous vehicles.

[3]

7.

A rail transport company uses a global positioning system (GPS) to

determine a train’s position.

(a)
Explain how GPS works.

[4]

The GPS data is used to provide real-time arrival data on video displays
in train stations.

(b.i)

State one data item concerning the arrival of a train that may be
provided on the video display.

[1]

(b.ii)

Outline how sensors can be used in combination with GPS to provide

more accurate arrival data.

[2]
 The GPS data is made publicly available so that software developers can
use it to build apps.

The mobile application ATrainAway uses the real-time train GPS data as
well as the GPS data from the user’s smartphone.

(c)

Outline two pieces of information that the ATrainAway application could

provide to the user.

[4]

(d)

Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of using GPS in

transportation systems.

[4]

8.
A business has a range of different computers within the organization,
including laptops, desktops and file servers. Wherever possible the
organization uses a common operating system on its computers.

(a)

Outline two resource management techniques that are likely to be

carried out by the operating system of a desktop computer.

[4]

(b)

Outline one way the operating system hides the complexity of the
hardware from the computer user.

[2]
Memory requirements and processor speed will vary depending on the
tasks required of the computer.

(c.i)

Contrast the memory requirements of a laptop computer and a file

server.

[2]

(c.ii)

Contrast the processor speed requirements of a laptop computer and a

file server.

[2]

The business has decided to implement a computer-based system to

switch the room lights on and off automatically. The lights will only be
switched on if the level of light is below a specific reading and there are
people in the room. The lights will be switched off when the room has
been unoccupied for at least five minutes.

(d)

State two types of sensor that are required to control the lighting to
ensure it switches on when it is required.

[2]

(e)

Explain how the system makes use of the data it receives from the
sensors to determine when to switch the lights on.

[4]
 (f)

Outline how the system will prevent the lights from being switched off
too quickly when it thinks the room is unoccupied.

[2]

9.

Outline one feature of autonomous agents.

[2]

10.

A company produces and sells domestic floor-cleaning robots.

The floor-cleaning robots can clean different surfaces like wood and
carpet. The floor-cleaning robots can also avoid obstacles or stairs.

Sensors are used by the processor that controls the floor-cleaning robot
so that it can move safely.

(a)

Describe two types of sensors used in the floor-cleaning robots.

[4]
(b)

Explain the function of an output transducer in this situation.

[3]

A computerized security system for the company’s headquarters

protects against unauthorized access using a swipe-card system. Each
door has a swipe-card reader that is connected to the central computer.
A database stores the IDs of all employees and the rooms they are
allowed to access.

(c.i)
Identify one alternative computerized method that could be used in
place of the swipe-card readers.

[1]

(c.ii)

Describe how the method identified in (c)(i) functions.

[3]

(d)

Compare polling and interrupts as mechanisms for the swipe-card

readers to interact with the central computer.

[4]
11.

A washing machine manufacturer has created its website to be viewed

on standard desktop computers as well as mobile devices. The mobile
browsing experience differs from desktop browsing.

(a.i)

Define the term screen resolution.

[1]

(a.ii)

Describe two issues resulting from the website being viewed on various
devices, such as desktops and smartphones.

[4]
Different devices such as desktop computers and mobile devices have
different operating systems.

(b)

Explain the role of the operating system (OS) in terms of managing the
hardware resources.

[4]
 (c)

A washing machine uses a control system.

The microprocessor controls the washing machine and its actions. To

complete the wash and rinse process the user selects the program,
loads the washing machine and pushes the start button.

Describe the interaction between the sensors, microprocessors and

output transducers in this situation.

[6]

12.

A mobile phone has been developed with its own dedicated operating
system and is to be used as part of a smart home system in Singapore.
The smart home system includes a centralized air conditioning system,
a burglar alarm and a surveillance system.
(a)

Identify two functions of an operating system.

[2]

(b)

Explain one benefit of using a dedicated operating system on the

mobile phone instead of a generic operating system.

[3]

(c)

Explain how sensors and microprocessors are used to ensure that the air
conditioning system is able to maintain a constant temperature in
the smart house.

[5]
 (d)

The developers of the smart home system are considering developing a

smart home system that uses a distributed control system to
manage the temperature.

Contrast the use of a distributed air conditioning system with a

centralized air conditioning system for maintaining a constant
temperature in the smart home.

[3]

13.
An oil and gas company has a networked computer system for use of
their employees in the Head Office.

(a.i)

Identify one hardware security measure that will ensure that

confidential data from the Head Office cannot be accessed.

[1]

(a.ii)

Identify one software security measure that will ensure that confidential
data from the Head Office cannot be accessed.

[1]

The company also uses the internet to enable communication with

employees working on exploration and production in many remote
geographical areas.

(b)

Identify one network security measure.

[1]
 The sub-sea oil and gas exploration and production unit of the company
relies on thousands of kilometres of pipeline which are monitored by a
computer control system which can detect leaks.

(c)

Explain the environmental benefit of using a computer control system to

monitor the pipeline.

[3]

The process of detecting leaks is carried out by sensors which are

continuously monitoring changes in the flow and pressure of the liquids
in the pipes.

This data is processed on a computer in the office.

If any of sensor values are outside of the acceptable parameters stored

on a disk in the office, the following error routines are performed:

• an alarm is sounded on the computer at the office

• an email message is sent to managers in the Head Office.

(d)

Explain the relationship between sensors, output transducers and

processor in this situation.

[4]
(e)

Construct a system flowchart to represent the process described above.

[5]

© International Baccalaureate Organization, 2025