Unit 24

5 Digital:
Light Switch
Alarm
Digital
Keyboard
Calculator

5 analogue
Gamepad
Characteristics.
Radio
Thermostat
Volume
Advantages and Disadvantages:
The advantage of digital is its speed. Since digital can be compared to 1 and 0 meaning its
either on or off. A control system using digital will be faster and can store more information;
however we can see one of its first disadvantages. Its only able to be that precise, meaning if
we need to convert our signal it will convert to a certain digit. For example if we have a certain
frequency we want to reach being 9.487 a basic converter will only reach first digits, jumping
from 8 to 9 to 10 and so on and so forth.
When it comes to certain advantages in analogue we can refer to the way the signal forms the
wave. An analogue can be more precise. However at the same time its main disadvantages can
come from its inaccuracy. We can take example trying to tune in to a radio station using
analogue signal. Due to its precision we can go close to being on the same frequency but not
quite yet, meaning the sound coming out will have lots of static and other noises.

Bratu Rares Vlad 20180056

Unit 24
What exactly are control systems ?
A control system is generally a set of specific devices that manage, direct, regulate and control
the behaviour of other devices. They can be found from industrial use to being used in our daily
life.
A simple control system l will be a light switch. It controls the light system we have. This can
make use of the two types of signal I previously mentioned.
A light switch using digital signals will have two functions, either on or off. We can compare this
to the binary, its either a 1 or a 0. There is no in between, however if we install a dimmer this
notion will change; as it allows us to transmit certain amounts of power therefore we can adjust
the light to a certain extent. In which we can choose how bright it is using the analogue signal.
Various types of control systems:
Command systems:
Command systems allow the user to control the device in question. The user will input a set of
commands to the system to which the system will respond and follow the commands.
Sensing systems:
These kind of systems are dependent of a sensor, which they will respond to. Most of these
systems will have various rules, or condition built into such as motion sensor for an alarm. If the
movement is minimal such as a bird passing by it will not start.
Conditional systems:
These kind of systems have a condition as mentioned in sensing systems, which they will follow
from various input methods. These depend on various factors such as time, date, sensors,
switches.
Programmable systems:
Programmable systems can be things such as microwaves and washing machines we can find
in our homes. They carry out a programmed task almost independent of any user action. We
can look at the washing machine which once set to perform a wash will carry out this action.
Afterwards the machine will have a timer to start the action for when it was set to. It will start the
wash process, rinse, even dry. All this without user input.

Bratu Rares Vlad 20180056

Unit 24

What a sensor is:

A sensor is a device capable of sensing various parameters that were set previously. They
convert it to electrical signals therefore communicating with the device.
A few example of sensors are: IR sensor, acoustic, parking sensor and so on and so forth.
To explain a sensor I will describe the parking sensor. Which works by sending waves outsides
and recording the time it takes for them to bounce back. With this process it is able to calculate
the distance and therefore will let the user know the distance between the back of the car and
other objects.
Temperature sensors work by voltage. Whenever there is a degree rise in temperature the
output voltage will increase by 10mV.
Therefore we can calculate that for 31 degrees Celsius the voltage will be displayed as 310mV.
IR sensors, (Infra Red) are very simplistic on their own but theyre commonly used. The main
device will send out IR rays and theyre detected by another device, which will be a receiver.
In the following diagram I will show how an IR sensor connects to an
Arduino device.

Binary:

Bratu Rares Vlad 20180056

Unit 24

Binary system is the scheme through which most computerised devices work
with. They have to possible values: 1/0
ASCII:
Stands for American Standard Code for Information Interchange. And is the
most common format to store text files in computers or servers. Each
character has a specific code and various symbols can be reproduced via Alt
and Numpad. Characters that are not available on the keyboard.

Bratu Rares Vlad 20180056