MONITORING AND
CONTROL
Chapter No. 3 AS A Level (9626)
By: M Ali Sabri (MSCS)
WHAT IS MONITORING?
• When a computer system collects data from sensors but does not
make changes by itself.
• The computer only records or displays data for humans to check.
🔹 Example: A computer in a hospital records a patient’s heart rate
and temperature. Nurses/doctors then decide what action to take.
WHAT IS CONTROL?
• When a computer system collects data from sensors and
automatically takes action based on it.
• No human input needed once the system is running.
🔹 Example: A central heating system:
• Thermostat (sensor) measures temperature.
• If room < 18°C → computer turns heating on.
• If room > 22°C → computer turns heating off.
ROLE OF SENSORS
• Computers cannot directly "sense" the real world.
• They need sensors to convert physical values into data.
• Common Sensors:
• Temperature sensor (heating, fridges)
• Pressure sensor (car tyres, weather stations)
• Motion sensor (security lights)
• Infrared sensor (TV remotes, automatic doors)
• Light sensor (street lights)
• Sound sensor (voice-controlled devices)
• pH sensor (monitoring soil or water quality)
HOW SENSORS WORK
• Sensor detects a physical change (e.g., temperature rise).
• Signal is sent to the computer (often analog → converted to digital).
• Computer stores, displays, or uses the data for decisions.
TYPES OF SENSORS & THEIR
USES
Sensor What it Detects Example Use
Temperature Heat / Cold Greenhouses, ovens, fridges
Light (LDR) Brightness of light Street lights, automatic lamps
Security alarms, automatic
Motion / Infrared Movement, body heat
doors
Pressure Force or pressure Car tyres, game controllers
Sound / Microphone Noise or sound waves Voice recognition, alarms
Greenhouses, weather
Moisture / Humidity Water or dampness in air/soil
stations
Smoke detectors, pollution
Gas Amount of gas in air
monitoring
pH Acidity/alkalinity Soil testing, swimming pools
Compass apps, metal
Magnetic field Magnetic strength
detectors
SENSORS IN MONITORING VS
CONTROL
• Monitoring system: Sensor collects data → computer records/displays it
→ human decides.
• Example: Patient’s heart rate monitored in hospital.
• Control system: Sensor collects data → computer automatically takes
action.
• Example: Central heating system turns heater ON when room gets too cold.
USES OF MONITORING
TECHNOLOGIES
Area Use of Monitoring Example
Medical Track patient’s vital signs Heart rate monitor in ICU
Weather station, water pH
Environment Measure weather, pollution
monitor
Monitor machines and
Industrial Factory robots, oil refinery
processes
Security Detect intruders, hazards Motion sensors, fire alarms
Airplane black box, traffic
Transport Monitor vehicles and traffic
sensors
Greenhouse sensors, soil
Agriculture Monitor crops and animals
moisture
WHAT IS CALIBRATION?
• Calibration means checking and adjusting sensors so that they give
accurate readings.
• Over time, sensors may become less accurate (drift).
• Calibration ensures the data collected is reliable and correct.
Why is Calibration Needed?
• Sensors are electronic devices → they can lose accuracy because of wear,
dirt, temperature, or age.
• Wrong sensor readings can cause incorrect decisions by the computer.
• Example:
If a temperature sensor in a greenhouse is faulty and shows 15°C when it’s
really 25°C, the computer may turn the heater on unnecessarily.
HOW CALIBRATION WORKS
• The sensor is compared with a known standard value (reference).
• If the sensor’s reading is wrong, it is adjusted (manually or
automatically).
• After calibration, the sensor’s readings should match the real values.
Examples of Calibration
• Hospital thermometer sensor: Checked against a known accurate
thermometer.
• Weighing machine sensor: Checked using a standard 1kg weight.
• pH sensor in water testing: Checked using solutions of known
acidity/alkalinity.
• Pressure sensor in car tyres: Checked with a standard pressure gauge.
END OF TODAY TOPIC