Control Systems

Task 1: Identifying Control Systems

1.​ List three control systems you encounter in daily life and describe their functions.

a)​ thermostat heating system: regulates temperature in the house based on preset
values.

b)​ smart home system: controls the lightning and other housework being performed.

c)​ traffic light system: controls traffic at intersections by changing signals at preset
intervals.

2.​ Classify each system as centralized or distributed and justify your choice.

a)​ centralized: a single thermostat controls the entire heating system.

b)​ distributed: each task is operated with a different processor.
c)​ distributed: many traffic lights operate independently.

Task 2: Feedback Mechanisms

1.​ Select a control system and explain how both negative and positive feedback mechanisms
work within it.

Mechanism: smart home system

a)​ negative feedback:

-​ lighting: if motion is detected in a room, lights turn on. When no motion is
detected, they automatically turn off.
-​ energy consumption: if energy consumption exceeds the preset limit,
unimportant devices are turned off (e.g. decorative lights).
b)​ positive feedback:
-​ security alarm: if unusual activity is detected by a motion sensor, an alarm is
triggered (if this activity is detected continuously, the alarm may keep
ringing, causing unnecessary noise).
2.​ Give an example of a system where negative feedback improves its efficiency.

Smart Energy Management System

Trigger: High energy consumption detected.​

Response: Non-essential devices turn off.​
Correction: When usage drops, devices restore.

Result: Prevents waste, lowers bills, avoids overload.

3.​ In what situations could positive feedback be dangerous?

Smart Security Alarm: A faulty sensor keeps detecting motion, triggering endless alarm and panic.

Smart Heating System: A malfunction causes continuous heating, leading to overheating and fire risk.

Smart Door Lock: Multiple failed login attempts wrongly detected, permanently locking out the
owner.
Task 3: Analyzing a Control System Read the following scenario: "A smart city introduces an intelligent
traffic light system that dynamically adjusts signal timing based on real-time traffic conditions. The
system uses motion sensors and cameras."

1.​ Identify the key components of this system (sensors, microprocessors, actuators).

Sensors: motion sensors, cameras (detect vehicle presence and flow).

Microprocessors (analyse real-time traffic data and develop optimal signal timings).

Actuators (change the lights based on processor decisions).

2.​ Determine if this system is centralized or distributed and justify your answer.

Distributed: each set of traffic lights processes its own data and makes independent
decisions.

3.​ What type of feedback mechanism does it use? Explain its operation.

negative feedback: if the sensors detect more traffic, the system increases green light
duration to get rid of the buildup. When traffic normalises, the system reduces green light
time to maintain balanced flow.

Task 4: Social and Ethical Implications

1.​ Discuss the social benefits that control systems can bring.

-​ efficiency: reduces human work in traffic control by implementing more automation.

-​ safety: improves accident prevention, medical response, and disaster rates.

-​ sustainability: optimizes resource use, such as water and electricity.

2.​ Identify and analyze the ethical concerns that may arise from the automation of
decision-making processes.

-​ privacy issues: sensors such as cameras may collect personal data without consent.
-​ reducing the number of job offers: automation may replace many workers and leave
them unemployed.
-​ biased data: if AI-based control systems are trained on biased data, they may make
subjective choices.
3.​ Should control systems always require human supervision? Provide reasons for your answer.

While control systems require supervision in high-risk scenarios (medical fields, autonomous
weapons), many tasks are simple and safe enough to be conducted by control systems without much
supervision, e.g. temperature control. Therefore, control systems should not always require
supervision.

Task 5: Designing a Control System

1.​ Design a basic control system for an automated greenhouse irrigation system.

2.​ Include the following elements in your design:

o​ Sensors (e.g., soil moisture, temperature)

o​ Microprocessor (decision-making unit)

 o​ Actuators (e.g., water pump, sprinklers)

o​ Feedback Mechanism

Components:

a)​ Sensors:
-​ soil moisture sensor: detects when plants need watering.
-​ temperature sensor: detects how irrigation needs to be adjusted based on environmental
conditions.
b)​ Microprocessor: processes sensor data and decides when to activate irrigation (e.g. when too
little moisture is detected in the soil).
c)​ Actuators: water pumps and sprinklers distribute water based on the microprocessor
decisions.
d)​ Feedback mechanism: negative feedback (if soil moisture is too low, the system turns on the
pump. When optimal moisture is reached, the pump is turned off to prevent overwatering.
3.​ Explain how your system adapts to environmental changes and optimizes water usage.

The system adjusts watering frequency based on temperature and humidity, which prevents waste
(humans are not able to access the plant’s need for water specifically).

The system also uses past data to predict watering needs, adapting to environmental changes and
improving the efficiency.

Bonus Task: Write a short essay (200-300 words) on the topic: "How do control systems influence the
future of technology and our daily lives?"

Control systems are intensively forming the future of technology by gradually increasing efficiency,
safety, and automation in many industries. From smart homes that optimize energy use to self-driving
cars that navigate even the more complex roads, these systems give us a lot of convenience and
precision on a daily basis.

One major area of modern control systems impact is healthcare, where automated systems regulate
medical devices like insulin pumps, caring for patient safety with minimal human intervention.
Similarly, automation has transformed manufacturing, allowing factories to operate on a bigger scale
and reduce costs.

However, as control systems become more “intelligent”, people start having ethical concerns. Privacy
risks associated with surveillance-based automation and job displacement due to AI-driven systems
must be well managed. Balancing technology use with human oversight will be a main issue in
maintaining technological progress.

In the future, adaptive and decentralized control systems will likely dominate, making cities more
responsive to real-time changes and events. Innovations in machine learning and predictive analytics
will allow control systems to anticipate problems even before they occur, leading to safer and more
sustainable solutions.

In summary, while there are some issues connected to the technology, control systems will
undoubtedly continue shaping a smarter, more efficient world.