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Automated Systems, Robotics and Artificial Intelligence: Question 6

Syllabus 6.1

Multiple choice 1 mark

A remote weather station on a hillside has a temperature sensor, a rainfall sensor and a wind-speed sensor, all connected to a microprocessor. Every ten minutes the microprocessor reads each sensor and stores the values in a log file so that scientists can study long-term weather patterns later. The station has no motors, heaters or any other actuator, and it never changes anything in its surroundings by itself.

Which term best describes this kind of system?

Choose an answer to check it, then compare with the worked solution below.
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Worked solution

Step 1: Recall the difference between a monitoring system and a control system

An automated system that uses sensors and a microprocessor can work in one of two ways:

  • A monitoring system uses sensors and a microprocessor to collect and store data automatically, so that a person can look at it later. It has no actuator, so it never changes anything in its surroundings itself.
  • A control system also uses sensors and a microprocessor, but the microprocessor’s decision is sent on to an actuator, which physically changes something (for example switching on a heater or opening a gate) without a person having to act.

Step 2: Match the description to a term

The weather station reads its sensors and stores the values “so that scientists can study long-term weather patterns later”. The data is being collected for a person to review afterwards. The stem also states directly that “the station has no motors, heaters or any other actuator, and it never changes anything in its surroundings by itself.” With sensors and a microprocessor but no actuator and no automatic response, this is a monitoring system.

Step 3: Why the other options are wrong

  • A (Control system): a control system needs an actuator that automatically changes something in response to the sensor readings; this station has none.
  • C (Expert system): an expert system reasons towards a conclusion using a knowledge base, rule base and inference engine; this station only logs raw sensor readings, it does not diagnose or conclude anything.
  • D (Robot): a robot needs a mechanical structure and must be programmable to carry out physical tasks; a fixed weather station with no moving parts is neither.

Final answer

  • The weather station is a monitoring system, option B.