Systems and Control

( for Secondary Schools )

A suite of interactive tools and teaching materials introducing Systems and Control.

Control aspects of ICT syllabi can be problematic without a large investment in hardware. RoboChallenge, UnderControl and Washing Machine are designed for teaching these without the need for extra hardware. RoboChallenge is an interactive and programmable robot arm emulation. The robot arm can be moved directly with the buttons and the movements recorded to form a simple program. Successfully capturing the satellite onto the shuttle allows it to take off. An interactive multimedia guide introduces the student to the concepts of control and movement. Animations show the principals of robotics which carries over into using the RoboChallenge application.

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RoboChallenge a programmable robot simulation. Rescue the satellite and load into the shuttle's cargo bay avoiding collisions with the craft. Create programs directly or through a macro facility. Download demo (2.6Mb) ( to install it run ROBOT.EXE from the location you downloaded to and then run SETUP.EXE )

UnderControl is a control table for a set of traffic lights on a standard crossroads junction. It allows you to write out a sequence to control the traffic lights and then watch what happens when unleashed on traffic. UnderControl is a basic example of a control system. Download demo (1.7Mb) ( to install it run UCONTROL.EXE from the location you downloaded to and then run SETUP.EXE )

RoadWorks is a control table for a set of Roadwork traffic lights. Lights change dependant on the current colours and whether there are cars waiting at either end. Download demo (1.6Mb)( to install it run ROADWORK.EXE from the location you downloaded to and then run SETUP.EXE )

Keylink Washing Machine The Washing Machine application simulates a domestic washing machine that follows a set of control instructions that are specified by the user. The Washing Machine will follow the user’s every command regardless of whether it is sensible or not. For example: spinning clothes before they have been rinsed is neither logical nor productive but this system will still allow you to do it.

The physics of the devices dictates how much electricity used and their effectiveness. For example, the heating element will heat the water at a rate determined by the quantity of water in the washing drum. The effectiveness of the wash cycle will depend on the:

• temperature of the water;
• addition of washing powder;
• amount of water;
• current cleanliness of the clothes;
• duration and speed of the cycle.

Similar constraints govern the effectiveness of rinse and spin cycles. The basic exercise is to design a wash cycle that uses as little electricity, time and water as possible whilst cleaning, rinsing, and drying the clothes optimally.

Runnable multimedia guides
A multimedia interactive introduction to Control Systems.	Run(2.7 Mb) ( this may require a plug-in for your browser which will be automatically downloaded)
A multimedia interactive introduction to Robotics	Run (1.56 Mb) ( t this may require a plug-in for your browser which will be automatically downloaded)

Systems and Control ( for Secondary Schools ) Prices and Ordering