Turtle Graphics, Sensors of Light and Washing Machines, Control Examples and Robotics

     Turtle graphics is a term used in computer for a program that can be used to make graphics by using a "turtle". This kind of program is rarely well-known for the ordinary computer users but are helpful for those who are making eye-trick and 3D illustrations.
     Sensors are basically a sensitive feature that detects automatically without even touching the device. They are often found in automatic doors, gadgets, parking sensors, lights and washing machines.The two things that the content of this blog will discuss is about the sensors in lights and washing machines.
     Control examples are related to sensors. The two control examples that will be discussed are a greenhouse environment and chemical process.

Turtle Graphics

     Turtle graphics is used to draw a graphic. The cursor used has a turtle as its illustration. This graphic involves a lot of commands and code. For example:

     Those commands may look complicated. However, these commands are actually easy to understand. It is basically like when you are playing a game where it involves a lot of codes and commands. Below are the results of turtle graphics:

     Turtle graphics also come in 3D models. Below are the examples.

Sensors

     Sensors are sensitive feature that are now used everywhere all around the world. For example, in the hospital when the doctors are checking the pulse rate of their patients or even in the parking lots at the mall. But now, we will be discussing about the sensors in lights and washing machines.

Sensors in Lamps

     From its name, we definitely know what a lamp sensor is. It makes the lamp turns on automatically according to the settings. The ones giving the inputs may involve the users or might also be the weather outside. There is a type of lamp sensor that will turn on the light when the weather outside is dark without the users needing to give the timer.The output is definitely a bright light that will shine the surroundings. Actuator is a device that can control the  system of the lamps sensors. Lamps sensors need their surrounding lights in order to work.

Sensors in a Washing Machine

     Washing machine has also a sensor in it. The sensors include temperature, water level, spin out-of-balance detector, leak detector, drum speed,etc. The inputs are dirty clothes and detergent while the outputs are clean and half-dried clothes. Users are the ones responsible to give the inputs to the washing machine. Microprocessors help the washing machine to program and control the washing machine itself. The first object that the microprocessors will check is the presences of clothes and the detergent. Without these two objects, a washing machine will never work.

Control Examples: A Greenhouse Environment

     There are 5 sensors that might be used in controlling a greenhouse system. Those 5 sensors are: light, humidity, moisture, temperature and pH(acidity). Let's just take an example of temperature which plays a role in the growth of the plants in the greenhouse. Excess high temperature might cause inhibition of growth or even death. 20-22 degrees are the best for plants growth. If the temperature is unstable, the temperature sensors will stabilize the temperature directly and this continues as long as the system is always on.

Control Examples: Chemical Process

     Sensors are also a part in this control system. It helps control the pH or the acidity. For example, if the pH is too high, a signal is sent to open a valve and acid is added. If the pH is too low, a signal is sent to close this valve. This works by changing the computer signals into analogue signals which can control the heaters and valves. This can continue as long as the system is on. The computer can control the process in an accurate way.

Robotics

     Robots are used in many areas of manufacturing,warehouses and mostly industries. In an era like this, robots are used more than the work of human. Robots are believed to bring more advantages than humans do. Control of robots is either through embedded microprocessors or linked to a computer system.

Programming of the robot to do a task is generally done in one of two ways:

·         -  The robot is programmed with instructions and it will do what human programmed at the beginning.

·         - Human operators which involves human in it as the controller of the robot. However, the tasks will be remembered by the robot automatically.

Robots are also equipped with sensors so they can detect their surroundings. For example, if there is a big hole, they will detect and they won't fall into it. Robots are also very good at repetitive tasks. However, if there are many different tasks then it is often better to still use human operators.

Advantages

·         - Robots can work in environments harmful to human operators.

·         - They can work non-stop for 24 hours.

·         - They are less expensive because users just need to buy them once and spend for their maintenance.

·         - Higher productivity because they won't get ill or any other things that can stop humans from working.

·         

Disadvantages

·        - Robots lead to unemployment since people nowadays prefer to use their works rather than to depend on human's ability of working.

-      - There might also still be system errors.

References:

http://www.servodan.com/page/sensors-lighting-control 

http://www.igcseict.info/theory/2/actu/index.html

http://www.ectinschools.org/page.php?ps=2&p=19

http://www.teach-ict.com/gcse_new/computer%20systems/microprocessors/miniweb/pg2.htm

http://ag.arizona.edu/hydroponictomatoes/system.htm

    Thank you for reading and may this help you to expand your knowledge!

Modelling Applications and Types of Processing

     This topics may be rare to encounter in our daily life. However, whether we realize it or not, this type of application is often used by us. For example, the traffic light simulation, tuck shop model,flight simulator for pilots or even weather forecasts. There are 3 types of processing. Below are the detailed information about modelling applications and types of processing.

Modelling Applications

     Basically, modelling application is an application to study the surroundings. This application has some advantages like low-cost and safer. As a drawback, modelling application is never exactly the same like what happens in real life and as a program, there might also be some errors. Here are some examples of modelling applications.

Traffic Light Simulation

     Traffic Light Simulation is the replica of the real condition on the road which is transferred or captured in our computer. In particular, three threads operate concurrently to represent are the cars, the traffic flow volume and the traffic lights. The data are collected by watching the traffic for a long period of time. Then, the data are entered to the computer so the traffic observer can just observe the traffic from the computer. 

The data that need to be collected are:

- The number of vehicles passing the on the road

- Is there any vehicle amount changes during holidays

- How long it takes the slowest vehicle to pass through the junction

- The movement of the vehicles

- etc

     However, The problem with microscopic simulators for traffic light networks is that the outcomes are largely non-linear and require a large number of replications to get accurate results, which can drive up the cost of doing the simulation.

Sensors are also present to help gathering the data.

Tuck Shop Model

     Tuck shop model is usually used for business or in the school supply shop. This model can save all the data about the purchase happening. It helps users to input the data easier as they just need to type in the formulas and the results will automatically appear. Tuck Shop can also tell about the profit or loss.

Flight Simulator

     Flight simulator is definitely used by training pilots. This kind of simulator helps pilot a lot before they will experience their "real life". This mimics the skills that a pilot needs. After a pilot is qualified in this flight simulator, they can now fly an airplane officially. Flight simulator can also be used for engineering simulation. It comes in a low-priced compared to a real flight where you are ought to buy a plane with a highly-cost parts of planes.

Weather Forecasts

     Weather forecast is a very useful system used by us to see the weather for today. This forecast can predicts today's weather, earthquake or even tsunamis which definitely helps us a lot. It may not be accurate because weather is so complex and it can changes every second.

Types of Processing

There are three basic types of processing:

- Batch processing

- Real-time processing

- Real-time process control

Batch Processing

     Batch processing is a process where jobs are collected into a data and loaded in a computer system. One advantage is that jobs can be processed when the computer is less busy. A common example of batch processing is in the use of credit cards. We may use several credit cards but the bill is mixed into one for each month. Another example is school attendance and bank cheque processing.

Real-time processing

     Real-time processing is a process which is used in theaters,flight bookings or when paying Automatic Teller Machine (ATM). This process is an online processing. One advantage of this process is a very fast response. However, this system or process must always be online due to the different period of time the users will check the system and is very expensive.

Real-time process control

     Real-time process control is a system where physical quantities are continually monitored and the input is processed sufficiently quickly to influence the input source. This kind of system has an accurate data.

References:

http://spectrum.ieee.org/cars-that-think/transportation/infrastructure/better-traffic-light-simulations-could-cut-travel-time-and-gas-use

http://www.ictlounge.com/html/modelling_applications.htm

http://www.brueckner.com/en/brueckner-colombia/software/real-time-process-control/

     Thus, those are some modelling applications and the 3 types of processing. May this blog help you more in learning about this 2 topics. Thank you for reading!

Safety Risks

     Your health is never safe guaranteed in every place especially when you are using your computer. Below are the details of the risks that may happen, the causes, how to prevent and how to handle the risks.

What are the risks?

Fire Risks

     Your computer may just suddenly burst out into flames without you being aware of it. Any electrical devices may have the chance of bursting out fire which first are only small fires but it may burst into a bigger one and harm the ones near the computer.

Electrical Shorts

     Electricity may be one of the greatest invention that Thomas Alfa Edison had made and now being used by everyone all over the world. However, it doesn't matter how advantageous electricity is, it may still cause risks especially when coming to playing computer. It may cause users to get electrical shocks or burns from it.

Trailing Wires

     Users are usually unaware of the wires behind their computer. Lots of people are not thinking about their wires anymore. They just let the wires being messy on the floor. But this kind of action may cause risks to users. Someone may trip because of the trailing wires on the floor.

Heavy Equipment Falling

     Heavy equipment may involve thick books on the computer desks, other bulky things or even the computer equipment such as monitors and printer. The falling of this bulky equipment may cause injuries such as swollen fingers.

Slips and Trips

     People that pass by through someone's computer desk may trip on something like boxes, a pile of documents,etc. This may cause someone to fall down or even the worse, they may roll down the stairs that can also cause someone to lose their life.

What are the causes?

Fire Risks

     The causes of fire risks are:

          - Overloaded electrical sockets

          - Wrong circuits that create sparks

          - Liquid inside the wire may leak out

          - Overheated computer

Electrical Shorts

     The causes of electrical shorts are:

          - Stray pieces of metals that form and electrical connection

          - Alternating current that is transmitted to the microprocessor's power supply unit.

          - Touching and uncovered wire
          - Wet hands while holding the wires

Trailing Wires

     The causes of trailing wires are:

          - Careless users

          - Lazy to tie up the wires

Heavy Equipment Falling

     The causes of heavy equipment falling are:

          - Careless users

          - The equipment are put on the side of the table that risks to fall down (not properly put)

Slips and Trips

     The causes of slips and trips are:

          - Improperly put objects

          - Trailing/messy wires

          - The unawareness of the people who pass by and also the unawareness of the users who mistakenly put the things on the floor

How to prevent?

Fire Risks

     The prevention:

          - Electrical equipment should be tested at least annually

          - Available fire estinguishers

          - Maintenance of equipment

          - Clear ventilation ducts and free from obstruction

Electrical Shorts

     The prevention:

          - Repair damaged appliances

          - Use safety covers for the wires

          - Do not use devices when thunderstorms
          - Make sure your hands are dry

Trailing Wires

     The prevention:

          - Secured all wires and cables on the floor

          - Tie up all the wires

          - Tidy the wires regularly

Heavy Equipment Falling

     The prevention:

          - Adequate spaces are available on the desk

          - Put the equipment properly on the desk

          - Do not carry many heavy things at once

Slips and Trips

     The prevention:

          - Properly put the things on the floor

          - Ensure the things are tidy on the floor

          - Place the unused things below the desk so it won't disturb the passer by

          - Tidy your workstation
          - Hold on to the handrail while going down the stairs

How to handle?

Fire Risk

     - Tackle the fire

     - Use a fire extinguisher
     - Know the nearest Emergency Exit/Gathering Point
     - Crawl while walking to other safer places

Electrical Shorts

     - Do not touch the wires

     - Put yourself away from the electrical shorts spot

     - Check the circuit breaker

     - If the circuit breaker has no problem, call a professional for a help
     - Use something made up of rubber to hold the one suffering from electrical shock

Trailing Wires

     - Immediately tidy up the wires

     - Tie up the wires afterwards

     - Put the wires below/behind your computer desk neatly

Heavy Equipment Falling

    - Put the equipment right away in a better space

     - Ensure that the equipment won't fall again

Slips and Trips

     - Place the objects in a safer place so no one will slip/trip

     - Tidy your workstation afterwards

References:

http://www.sqa.org.uk/e-learning/FirstLine02CD/page_04.htm#FirePrevent

http://www.sqa.org.uk/e-learning/HardOSSupp05CD/page_32.htm

    

http://www.safety.com/articles/reduce-your-risk-electrical-shocks

http://www.teach-ict.com/as_a2_ict_new/ocr/AS_G061/317_role_impact_ict/health_safety/miniweb/pg10.htm

http://www.itdonut.co.uk/it/staff-and-it-training/computer-health-and-safety/maintaining-the-electrical-safety-of-computer-equipment

http://www.amerisafe.com/site71.php

http://www.redbeacon.com/hg/how-troubleshoot-common-electrical-problems/

Risks may happen at any time without you being aware of it. Keep your workstation clean and check your workstation regularly. Thank you for reading this blog and have a nice day!