Fundamentals of Computer Control Systems and Programming

Three Basic Elements of Computer Control

• Inputs: These capture the sensor response.
• Outputs: These act on switches to open or close electric circuits and control systems.
• Programming: This analyzes data from the sensors to act on the corresponding switches.

Manual and Automatic Control Systems

Control may be manual or automatic. Signals within these systems are categorized as follows:

• Analog signals: These are continuous variables (for example, temperature does not experience sudden jumps in intervals).
• Digital signals: These use a 1 when active or a 0 when disabled.

The Role of the Electronic Controller

A controller is an electronic device connected to the computer that contains several inputs and outputs. It is used to control electromechanical devices from the computer and acts as an intermediate between the computer and the machine we want to handle.

Data Flow in Control Systems

• Procedure (Inputs): This is the information that the sensors send to us.
• Outputs: This is the information sent to the machines through the program.

Control and Programming Interfaces

The Control Interface is the set of programs that manage the work of the controller from your computer. It includes each programming environment and its corresponding on-screen presentation. The set of instructions to perform a program is granted a certain name and is created within different programming environments.

High-Level Programming Languages

While some drivers have their own specific programming language, most use high-level languages. These are well-known to programmers; because these languages are widely known, we can program different controllers without having to learn a specific language for every device.

Essential Elements for Programming

To execute control actions, high-level programming languages use specific syntax and sentences. The following elements are essential for programming:

• Variable: A value that may change during program execution. If the data is numeric, the variable is numerical; if it is a character set, it is alphanumeric; and if it only represents true or false, it is Boolean.
• Constant: A value that remains the same throughout the execution of the program.
• Commands: These are actions within the programming language used to execute orders within a program.