Automated Systems

What is an Automated System

Typically automated systems have an

Input
Process
Output
What is an Automated System
The input may be manual or automatic

The process will be carried out by the

machine

Finally the output is produced

Examples of Automated Systems
In the home

Toasters
DVD players
Washing machines
Central heating controls
Examples of Automated Systems
Out and about

Traffic lights
Automatic doors
Drinks vending machine
Parking ticket dispensers
 Examples of Automated Systems
In the work place

CNC lathes
Robot arms
Mobile robots

watch a clip of an automated system

Why use automated systems
Safety
Accuracy
Faster
Flexibility
Efficiency
Repetition
 Safety
Dangerous or unhealthy tasks are carried
out by machines

Spray painting cars

Working with toxic chemicals
Operating in dangerous environments
 Accuracy
Automated systems are more accurate
than human beings

They do not get tired

They do not get bored
They do not lose their concentration
 Faster
Automated systems can work faster than
human beings
 Flexibility
Automated systems can be very flexible in
what they can do

Robots are reprogrammable

Robots can have their end effectors
changed to do new tasks
 Efficiency
Automated systems are more efficient
than human beings because:

They work 24 hrs a day without breaks

365 days a year without holidays
Are never sick, do not strike and never ask
for a pay rise once they are purchased
 Repetition
Lots of tasks carried out in factories are
very repetitive

These are best carried out by

programmable machines that will
continually repeat actions over and over
again without deviation
Why use automated systems
Safety
Accuracy
Faster
Flexibility
Efficiency
Repetition
 Types of control
Open loop control system gives out control
information Output

Instructions

Control computer
 Types of control
This does not involve feedback
Open Loop Diagram

Instructions

Control computer Output

 Types of control
Closed loop control system uses feedback
from a sensor Output

Instructions

Control computer

Sensor provides feedback

Traffic sensor
 Closed Loop Diagram

Control
Computer
control information
output

feedback sensor

Watch a video clip

 Types of control
The sensor provides information to the
control computer. This is called feedback.

The control computer can (not will) alter

the instructions to the output device.
Closed Loop Diagram
decision control information
output

feedback sensor
 Types of control
The difference between open and closed
loop control

An open loop system carries on regardless

no matter what the circumstances

A closed loop system uses feedback to

alter the control information
Watch a video clip
 Robotics
Two types of robots

Stationary (Robot
arms)

Mobile

watch a video clip

 The anatomy of stationary robots
This could be drawn like this
Wrist
Shoulder shoulder

end
effector
wrist
elbow
End Effector

Elbow

waist

Waist
watch a video clip
Robots
 Stationary Robots

End Effectors can be of various types:

Gripper
Suction cup
Paint spray
Welding electrode

Watch a video clip

 Mobile Robots

Autonomous guided vehicles

Remote controlled vehicles

Autonomous guided vehicles
AGV keep the production line in parts by
fetching and carrying them from the warehouse
to the assembly line
Autonomous guided vehicles
AGV travel using:

a magnetic guidance system

a light guidance system

Autonomous guided vehicles
All AGV will be fitted with sensors to detect
unexpected objects in their path

AGV will stop immediately if something is

detected

Communication with the control computer

will be in real time
 Remote controlled vehicles
RCV are used in
places where it is not
safe for humans to go
and are used in:

Bomb disposal
Nuclear power
stations
Toxic areas
Deep sea exploration
 Remote controlled vehicles
RCV will be fitted with a variety of sensors
and may include robot arms

RCV are usually guided by a human using

an optical sensor (camera)
 Robots
Each movable part of a robot is powered
by an actuator which can be:

Electrical
Hydraulic (liquid pressure)
Pneumatic (air pressure)
 Robot arm movement
One of the most important specifications of
a robot arm is the number of degrees of
freedom it has

The number of ways the arm can move its

movable joints
 Robot arm movement
The human arm
The wrist can move up and down and left
to right - two degrees of freedom
The elbow moves in one plane only but
the forearm can cross over- two degrees
of freedom
The shoulder can move in three planes
and up and down – four degrees of
freedom
 Robot arm movement
The robot arm
has also got a
waist which
allows left to right
movement – one
degree of
freedom

waist
 Degrees of freedom
This is a measure of the number of movements
which the joints can move.
This example has 6 degrees of freedom
Rotates base of arm
Pivots base of arm
Bends elbow
Moves wrist up and down
Moves wrist left and right
Rotates wrist
 Robot arm movement
The terms roll, pitch and yaw are used to
describe different types of movement

Yaw is movement from side to side

Pitch is up and down motion
Roll is rotation
 Robots
Robots are connected to a computer by a
device known as an interface

An interface allows analogue and digital

devices to communicate with each other
 Interface- Analogue to Digital
Analogue signal

Digital signal

Sensors provide analogue data

Interface
Computers use only digital data
 Interfaces
Analogue and digital conversion

Movement and sensor readings are

analogue - a variable signal

Computers are digital 0’s and 1’s

Conversion must take place

 Interfaces
A to D converters change the continuously
varying analogue signal to digital

D to A converters allow the computer to

send instructions to analogue devices
 Transducers + Digitisers
A transducer is a device which changes
external physical input into an analogue
signal e.g. temperature sensors

A digitiser converts a visual image from a

video or television camera into a digital
form
 Programming robots
Can be reprogrammed to do different
tasks there are two ways to instruct a
robot:

Using a high level language – a control

language (this is done remotely)
Lead through method

watch a video clip

 Mobile robots
Mobile robots may not be in contact with a
control computer

They will have control programs which are

stored on ROM chips (Read Only Memory)
 Simulators
Simulators a developed to realistically
recreate a real life situation
These can be a model of a real life
situation, testing a car or walking through
a new building
Or used for training – flying a plane or
driving a car
video
Simulators
 Virtual Reality
Virtual Reality is a method of producing
the outside world digitally
VR may require the user to wear a
headset, which will have earphones and
goggles and data gloves to input
Users respond to computer generated
graphics called Avatars
Video
Virtual Reality
Implications of Automated Systems
Social implications

Job losses- less workers needed

Job security
New jobs- maintenance of A.S.
New skills- programming
A systems analyst will also detail the design and layout of the factory

System Analysis
A systems analyst will determine what
processes can be automated

What machines will be best suited

What computer systems and software are

needed
Implications of Automated Systems

Maintenance,
testing and
reprogramming
of robot arm
can be carried
out on site
Implications of Automated Systems
Technical implications – Safety

People and machines kept apart as much

a possible
Special design or layout of factory
Safety barriers and robot only paths
Implications of Automated Systems

A typical automated car factory. Notice that there are no

people about.
Implications of Automated Systems
Technical implications – Safety

Moving parts of machines covered

Mobile robots move slowly and are fitted
with sensors to detect obstacles
Robots only carry out tasks when
component is in position e.g. painting
when car is in position
Implications of Automated Systems
A factory layout for an automated system
Implications of Automated Systems
Quality control

Using automated systems the quality of

the product can be kept consistent

Manager monitor the system making

changes if necessary
Implications of Automated Systems
Economic

Expensive to install
Complete new factories may have to be
built
Long term “cheaper” than humans
Productivity is increased
The Future

Intelligent robots” ?
“

Expert systems will combine with

robots allowing “thinking” machines
which will apply rules more
consistently than humans, explain
their decisions and learn from their
mistakes

watch a video clip 1

watch a video clip 2
watch a video clip 3