Part 3: Future

Sense-Compute-Communicate-Actuate

Part 1

Technologies of Today and Near Future

Many technologies share this theme of a Sense-Compute-Communicate-Actuate loop.

Sense

Use sensors to pick up signals - get information about the environment

Compute

Use computation using that information

Communicate

Send results of computation (or some of the sensed information) to other systems or to humans

Actuate

Take some action: physically move (with help of motors) or send a signal

Loop

Go through the four-step process again and again

Today’s topic: Sensing

The Loop in Humans

Sense

◼
  • see
    • ◼
  • hear
    • ◼
  • touch
    • ◼
  • smell
    • ◼
  • taste

    • Compute

    In the brain
    ◼
  • Visual cortex
    • ◼
  • Auditory cortex
    • ◼
  • Sensory cortex

    • Communicate

    ◼
  • Facial expression
    • ◼
  • Gestures
    • ◼
  • Voice

    • Actuate

    ◼
  • Muscular and skeletal movements

    • The Loop in a Machine: Drone Delivery Systems
    

    The Loop in a Machine: Autonomous Vehicles
    

    The Loop in a Machine: Digital Assistants
    

    The Loop in a Machine: Cleaning Robots

    Sense

    Compute

    Communicate

    Actuate
    

    The Loop in a Machine: Smart Treadmill

    Sense

    Compute

    Communicate

    Actuate

    Sensors

    Camera: IR, thermal, LIDAR, RADAR

    Microphones: audible, ultrasound

    IMU (Inertial Measurement Unit): accelerometer, gyroscope, magnetometer

    Wireless: GPS, WiFi, Radio signals

    Assorted: Pressure, humidity, proximity, temperature, chemical traces