Simulation and Real-time processing

1. Simulation and Real-time processing VCN 9691 Computing Notes Chapter 3.7

2. Real –time Systems • A real-time system is one that can react quickly enough to data input to affect the real world. • The system should process and output data without a significant delay. VCN 9691 Computing Notes

3. Application of Real-time Systems • The real-time systems are needed in situations where there is a need to make a decision quickly. • For example • A nuclear reactor may start to react too violently. • The sensors will pick up the readings and send input to the controlling program. • The control program takes the decision to insert graphite rods to slow the reaction down. • The readings from the sensors (input) must be processed immediately. This is a real-time processing system. It is not important how quick the output (insertion of graphite rods) should be. The decision making time is important. VCN 9691 Computing Notes

4. Application of real –time systems VCN 9691 Computing Notes

5. Application of Real-time Systems Real time systems can be used in: • temperature control systems • security alarm systems • Biometric objects VCN 9691 Computing Notes

6. Advantages of Real-time Systems • The system will make decision immediately which can be vital in making critical decisions. • Real-time systems can eliminate the need of human supervision in certain situations. • Real-time systems can help save human lives, equipment and environment catastrophes by providing timely feedback. VCN 9691 Computing Notes

7. Disadvantages of Real-time Systems • Real-time systems are almost always dedicated systems and can not do anything else in order to keep the decision time short. • Real-time systems need expensive hardware and software in order to provide the best response time. VCN 9691 Computing Notes

8. The feedback loop; input & output; sensors & actuators • A sensor is a device that measures physical quantities such as length, time, temperature, light, flow, pressure, etc • Sensors can be analogue or digital. • For analogue sensors the computer will require the signals to be passed through an analogue/digital converter (ADC) because the computers can only use digital signals as input. • SENSORS ARE FOR INPUT VCN 9691 Computing Notes

9. Actuators • An actuator is the device that can accept a signal from the computer and turn it into a physical movement. • Actuators are commonly used in devices that are needed to be controlled by a computer system. • Example: • Turning a robot in a different direction. • Opening and closing an automatic door. VCN 9691 Computing Notes

10. ROBOTS VCN 9691 Computing Notes

11. The use of robots • A robot is a mechanical device which is under the control of a processor. • Robots are used because:- (advantages) • A single robot can do work that can equally be done by, say, 100 employees, thus helping cut costs on salary. • A robot is consistent and does not get tired, as opposed to humans • Robots can be used to do work in places that are hazardous to humans, e.g. inside of a nuclear reactor • In places where the environment does not have essential components for humans like air, light etc, robots can be used. E.g. on mars exploration. VCN 9691 Computing Notes

12. The use of robots • Disadvantages • Robots are expensive to buy. • Robots may not be able to adapt to unexpected situations, because they are preprogrammed. • The use of robots has created unemployment to a certain level • There is a need, to employ expert technicians to service the machines, programmers to program every task that they need to undertake. • Robots break down due to extensive use and require periodic maintenance. VCN 9691 Computing Notes

13. The use of simulations • Simulation is the use of a computer program to predict the likely behavior of a real-life system. • Simulations involve constructing mathematical models of a system and testing them, usually under controlled conditions. • By changing different variables in the model, many different situations can be tested and experienced. • Interactive simulations allow the user to ‘interact’ with the simulation by accepting live input and responding to it in real-time. VCN 9691 Computing Notes

14. Reasons for simulation • Simulation can be used to predict the results of actions, or model situations, that would be otherwise too dangerous. • For example simulating a car’s reaction to imminent crash without necessarily crashing a car. • Simulation can help to speed up a process in order to give results in a more reasonable time scale. • For example, simulating the growth of a crop which could otherwise take months to grow • They can be used to create virtual reality worlds where impossible things seem possible, e.g flying through the rings of planet saturn VCN 9691 Computing Notes

15. Reasons for simulation • Production of a test prototype would be very expensive • -Time taken to produce and test a prototype may be too long/immediate need • Need to test in circumstances unable to be reproduced • May be too dangerous to test in reality • Situations can be reproduced which may never arise in ordinary testing VCN 9691 Computing Notes

16. Example Questions • 1. Describe the real time application of a computer used to control a burglar alarm system. (4) • 2. Explain why some applications require parallel architecture to carry out their processing and describe what is meant by parallel processing. VCN 9691 Computing Notes