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Sensors in Monitoring and Control Applications

Sensors are input devices that record data about the environment and send it to a computer system to be processed. This data can then trigger an output or action. Sensors are used in monitoring systems to continuously collect data over time without human input, and in control systems to automatically control a system based on sensor readings. Pressure sensors are used in traffic control systems to monitor traffic flow and trigger lights or signs accordingly.

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Katherine Pierce
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71 views

Sensors in Monitoring and Control Applications

Sensors are input devices that record data about the environment and send it to a computer system to be processed. This data can then trigger an output or action. Sensors are used in monitoring systems to continuously collect data over time without human input, and in control systems to automatically control a system based on sensor readings. Pressure sensors are used in traffic control systems to monitor traffic flow and trigger lights or signs accordingly.

Uploaded by

Katherine Pierce
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Sensors in monitoring and Control Applications

Sensor: A sensor is an input device that records data about the surrounding physical
environment. The sensor inputs this data into a computer system to be processed. Once the
data has been processed, if necessary, an output can be triggered as a response.
Sensors can automatically, enter data into a computer system, removing the need for a
human to manually enter the data. They can be very beneficial as it can increase the
accuracy of the data by removing the possibility of human error.
Using sensors can also be very beneficial in environments that could be harmful and
dangerous for a human, for example in a nuclear plant to detect radiation levels, or inside
an active volcano to detect changes in activity.
Monitoring and control! technologies make use of many different sensors. Monitoring
technologies use sensors to monitor an environment, often collecting data about the
environment.
Control technologies use sensors to automatically control elements of a system, or a whole
system, by using the data from them to trigger an action or event.
The basic concept behind most monitoring and control systems is very similar. They will
normally go through the following steps:
• The sensor will constantly monitor the surrounding environment
• The data readings from the sensor will normally be analogue. Therefore, they will be
converted to a digital signal for a computer system to process. This is done by an
analogue to digital converter
• The digital signal is then sent to a microprocessor. The microprocessor processes the
value and compares it to a pre-set value or range of values
• If the value is outside the acceptable range, the microprocessor will send a signal to an
actuator to trigger any action that needs to be taken.
A real-life example of a control technology in operation would be an automated street light.
This may include the following stages:

 A light sensor will constantly monitor the level of light present in the surrounding
environment.
 The analogue data from the reading will be converted to a digital value by an
analogue to digital converter.
 The digital signal is sent to a microprocessor and the microprocessor will compare
the value to a pre-set range.
 If the value is outside the pre-set range, the microprocessor sends a signal to an
actuator that will trigger the action to turn the street light on or off.
 The whole process will then be repeated.
We can represent this as a flowchart:

This is an example of a control system at work. It is a control system as an action is triggered


to control an element of the system as a result of the monitoring that is taking place. A
monitoring system outputs results in a different way. Rather than an action being triggered,
the results of the readings taken from the monitoring can be output in the form of graphs or
charts. This allows the readings to be compared and any patterns or trends to be identified.
This information can then be used to inform any future decision making.
Monitoring systems can be used in scientific experiments. The experiments are often left to
run for periods of time, with a monitoring system taking readings at regular intervals. The
readings are then output and can be analysed. This kind of technology removes then need
for a human to regularly take the readings. This means that the readings can be taken over
long periods of time and can often be more accurate if taken by a system.
There are a range of different sensors that we need to be able to define. We also need to
describe how they are used in monitoring and control technologies and evaluate using these
technologies in our everyday lives.
Light sensors
Light sensors monitor and measure light. There are
different types of light sensor and they measure light in different ways The most common
type of light sensor is a photoresistor. This type of light sensor will change
its resistance when light shines on and is normally used to measure the intensity of light.
This is important in devices such as digital cameras or street lights. The camera can adjust
the level of flash needed depending on the level of light currently detected by the light
sensor. A street light can detect when it gets dark enough to need to switch the light on.
Light sensors can be used in many different devices including barcode scanners, display
screens, automated lighting systems and smartphones.
Sensors are used in a wide variety of monitoring and control systems. These systems are
part of our everyday lives, from helping us cross the road safely, to making sure our clothes
are washed properly. The use of sensors in computer systems can benefit us greatly. This
remove the need for a human to monitor and measure an environment as this can be done
continuously by the sensor. This can leave us to get on with other tasks that we need to
complete It can also mean that the monitoring and measuring is more accurate.
For a human to complete a repeated action, for example taking a reading over and over for
long periods of time, can be very arduous and it may prove difficult to maintain accuracy. A
computer system that has a sensor that
can perform this role is able to run for long periods of time, with a high level of accuracy.
This level of accuracy.
can make a system more reliable than one operated by humans.
By using a sensor or a number of sensors in a monitoring or control system, multiple
readings can be taken in quick succession. It would require people to perform the same
function, and so these people can be made available to perform other tasks. The computer
system will make decisions based on the data it is given. It will act logically on these
decisions in the way it has been programmed. This can be beneficial as the decisions made
and actions taken will be consistent. If a human performed the same decision-making
process, external factors may affect the decision they make, for example how tired they are.
This could cause inconsistency in the decision-making process and actions taken. This can
sometimes be a disadvantage and a computer system may not be able to react to an
unexpected event that
a human would be able to assess and make a decision about.
Remember a computer system using sensors can operate 24 hours a day, 365 days a year,
meaning that monitoring can be done on a continual basis. It can also remove the possibility
of human error in the measurements.
Sensors are also extremely beneficial for use in environments that are dangerous to
humans. This means that we can be kept safe yet dangerous environments can still be
monitored. Also, computers can process data much more quickly and respond faster to any
necessary actions than a human, so a dangerous environment can be monitored and
controlled more effectively.
There is always a risk involved in using computer systems in monitoring and control. The
system is electronic and if a power failure occurs, the system
will not operate. If the system is controlling a crucial process, this could have a detrimental
effect. This could also happen with a simple system malfunction.
TASK
Find out how pressure sensors are used in traffic control systems.

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