4 Applications of IT Tools

4.4 Applications in Industry

Computer-aided Design (CAD)

Using computers to design new products

CAD systems are high-speed workstations or desktop computers with CAD software

A graphics tablet is used for drawing, and a scanner may be attached for additional input

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CAD The output of a CAD system is either printed

or electronically transmitted to a CAM system, which builds the objects

CAD software allows designers to create and review three-dimensional models of new products on the computer before expensive molds are required

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Computer-aided Manufacturing (CAM)

Products designed by CAD are direct input into the CAM system

generates the instructions for the machine that makes the product designed

For example, a device is designed and its electronic image is translated into a numerical control programming language

http://www.geocities.com/cadcamworld/

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Robotics A robot is a machine built around a

microprocessor It can be programmed to carry out complex

and repetitious tasks using its arms A robot can be a simple computer-controlled

mechanical arm It can also be a sophisticated machine that

looks and performs human-like tasks

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Shakey the RobotDeveloped in 1969 by the Stanford Research Institute, Shakey was the first fully-mobile robot with artificial intelligence. Shakey is seven feet tall and was named after its rather unstable movements. (Image courtesy of The Computer Museum History Center.)

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MAGPIEDeveloped by SRI International for Osaka Gas in Japan, this Magnetically Attached General Purpose Inspection Engine goes inside gas pipes and looks for leaks. This unit served as the prototype for multicar models that perform temporary repairs while capturing pictures. (Image courtesy of SRI International.)

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Computers Making ComputersRobots, whose brains are nothing but

chips, are making chips in this TI fabrication plant. (Image courtesy of Texas

Instruments, Inc.)

Reference sites The Lego Mindstorms Robot

– http://www.magicnet.net/~twdow/mindstorms.html

A telerobot site that you can play with Robot – http://telerobot.mech.uwa.edu.au/

Laboratory for perceptual robotics – http://www-robotics.cs.umass.edu/robotics.html