Automated and emerging technologies

6.1 Automated systems

Candidates should be able to:

1. Describe how sensors, microprocessors and actuators can be used in collaboration to create automated systems

2. Describe the advantages and disadvantages of an automated system used for a given scenario

Note and guidance

• Including scenarios from:
  • industry
  • transport
  • agriculture
  • weather
  • gaming
  • lighting
  • science

6.2 Robotics

Candidates should be able to:

1. Understand what is meant by robotics

Note and guidance

• Robotics is a branch of computer science that incorporates the design, construction and operation of robots
• Examples include factory equipment, domestic robots and drones

2. Describe the characteristics of a robot

Note and guidance

• Including:
  • a mechanical structure or framework
  • electrical components, such as sensors, microprocessors and actuators
  • programmable

3. Understand the roles that robots can perform and describe the advantages and disadvantages of their use

Note and guidance

• Robots can be used in areas including:
  • industry
  • transport
  • agriculture
  • medicine
  • domestic
  • entertainment

6.3 Artificial intelligence

Candidates should be able to:

1. Understand what is meant by artificial intelligence (AI)

Note and guidance

• AI is a branch of computer science dealing with the simulation of intelligent behaviours by computers

2. Describe the main characteristics of AI as the collection of data and the rules for using that data, the ability to reason, and can include the ability to learn and adapt

3. Explain the basic operation and components of AI systems to simulate intelligent behaviour

Note and guidance

• Limited to:
  • expert systems
  • machine learning
• Expert systems have a knowledge base, a rule base, an inference engine and an interface
• Machine learning is when a program has the ability to automatically adapt its own processes and/or data