IGCSE ICT

Driverless (autonomous) vehicles are increasing in number every year. These are very complex robots, but the big problem is not really the technology (because problems will be solved over time) – it is human perception. It will take a large leap of faith for humans to ride in an autonomous car or an aeroplane with no pilot. We are already used to autonomous trains, as these are used in many cities throughout the world. These systems have been generally accepted; but that is probably because trains do not overtake other trains and have a very specific track to follow. Security and safety when using autonomous vehicles Autonomous vehicles use sensors, cameras and microprocessors to ‘understand’ their immediate environment. These vehicles run using complex software systems and a large number of external sensors. This makes such vehicles rather vulnerable to cybercriminals. A hacker may not even have to break into the vehicle’s control system; they may be able to cause many problems by blo...

Autonomous (pilotless) aeroplanes Aeroplanes have used auto-pilots for many years to control flights. Human pilots only take over during take-off and landing. Autonomous (pilotless) aeroplanes would make even more extensive use of sensors, actuators and microprocessors to control all stages of the flight.  Some of the main features of a control system on a pilotless aeroplane would include: » sensors to detect turbulence to ensure smooth flights » an increase in self-testing of all circuits and systems » sensors that would automatically detect depressurisation in the cabin, therefore allowing for quick stabilisation of the aeroplane » use of GPS for navigation and speed calculations » use of actuators to control, for example, throttle, flaps (on the wings) and the rudder. Consider some of the advantages and disadvantages specific to pilotless aeroplanes:

  Autonomous Train Autonomous (driverless) trains have been around for a number of years in a number of large cities. As with other autonomous vehicles, driverless trains make considerable use of sensors, cameras, actuators and on-board computers/microprocessors. Autonomous trains make use of a system called LiDaR (Light Detection and Ranging); LiDaR uses lasers which build up a 3D image of the surroundings. Other sensors (such as proximity sensors on train doors) and cameras (including infrared cameras) are all used for various purposes to help control the train and maintain safety. The control system in the train also makes use of global positioning satellite technology, which allows accurate changes in speed and direction to be calculated. Again, actuators pay a huge role here in controlling the train’s speed, braking and the opening and closing of the train doors. The safety improvements made by these autonomous systems are fairly obvious. Consider some of the advantages and di...

  Autonomous cars, buses, vans In this section, we will consider autonomous cars as our example. Autonomous cars use sensors, cameras, actuators and microprocessors (together with very complex algorithms) to carry out their actions safely. Sensors (radar and ultrasonics) and cameras allow the control systems in cars to perform critical functions by sensing the dynamic conditions on a road. They act as the ‘eyes’ and ‘ears’ of the car. Microprocessors process the data received from cameras and sensors and send signals to actuators to perform physical actions, such as: » change gear » apply the brakes » turn the steering wheel. Cameras catch visual data from the surroundings, while radar and ultrasonics allow the vehicle to build up a 3D image of its surroundings (very important when visibility is poor, such as in heavy rain, fog or at night). Suppose an autonomous car is approaching a set of traffic lights which areshowing red. The first thing the control system in the car needs to ...

Control of smart road systems and smart signs Many modern motorways are now called smart motorways. This is because the monitoring and control of the traffic and/or the information displayed on the motorway signs is controlled by a central computer system. If there has been an accident or there is considerable traffic congestion, then smart motorway signs can control the traffic to keep it moving or redirect it to avoid the accident. Even the traffic lights in cities are now computer controlled systems. However, imagine the chaos that would be caused if any of these systems were hacked. Somebody could then have control over a chosen section of the road network. That has huge safety and security implications. Rail and airline network control systems Safely coordinating the large number of trains and aeroplanes entering and leaving stations and airports is a complex task, but computerised monitoring systems make this possible. It is possible to run a more efficient timetable under total ...