Automated systems in agriculture

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Automated systems in agriculture

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Quick Questions

Shade in the A or B circle for each question.

1. A moisture sensor in a field reads below the stored value. What should the microprocessor make happen?
A It signals the sensor to open the irrigation valve
B It signals the actuator to open the irrigation valve
2. Which part of an automated irrigation system is the actuator?
A The motor that opens the water valve
B The moisture sensor in the soil
3. In a greenhouse, the temperature sensor reads higher than the stored maximum. What happens next?
A The microprocessor switches on the heater
B The microprocessor switches on the fan or opens the window motor
4. In a greenhouse, the temperature drops below the stored minimum. Which actuator does the microprocessor switch on?
A The heater
B The window motor to open the window
5. Which statement about a greenhouse humidity sensor is correct?
A It measures the amount of water vapour in the air
B It measures the amount of water in the soil

Match the Pairs

Draw a line connecting each item on the left to its match on the right.

Left columnRight column
1IF moisture < 30 THEN valve OPEN AIF light < 40 THEN lamp ON
2IF temp > 28 THEN window OPEN BIF temp < 15 THEN heater ON ELSE heater OFF
3A light sensor lets the system turn on grow lights automatically when it is too dark for the plants CWhen the soil is too dry, the microprocessor makes the irrigation valve open to water the crops.
4The microprocessor compares the temperature with a stored value and switches the heater on or off to keep the greenhouse warm enough DA heater does not remove damp air. The actuator for high humidity should be a fan or a window motor.
5IF moisture < 30 THEN sensor OPEN EA sensor only inputs data, so it cannot be opened. The irrigation valve is the actuator that should open.
6IF humidity > 80 THEN heater ON FWhen the greenhouse is too hot, the window motor opens the window to cool the air.

Definitions

agricultural automation

Fill in the Blanks

Complete each line of code by filling in the missing parts.

1.
IF moisture _ 30 THEN OPEN valve ENDIF
2.
IF temperature > 28 THEN ____ window ENDIF
3.
IF temperature < 15 THEN _______ heater ENDIF
4.
IF _____ < 40 THEN TURN_ON growLights ENDIF
5.
reading _ READ(humiditySensor) IF reading > 80 THEN START fan

Spot the Error

Shade in the letter of the line that contains an error.

Question 1
A moisture ← ReadMoisture()
B limit ← 30
C IF moisture > limit THEN
D OpenValve()
E ENDIF
Question 2
A temp ← ReadTemp()
B IF temp > 28 THEN
C fan ← ON
D CloseWindow()
E ENDIF
Question 3
A WHILE TRUE
B light ← ReadLight()
C IF light < 40 THEN
D growLight ← OFF
E ENDIF
F ENDWHILE
Question 4
A humidity ← ReadHumidity()
B target ← 60
C IF humidity > target
D SwitchOn(fan)
E ENDIF
Question 5
A WHILE FALSE
B moisture ← ReadMoisture()
C IF moisture < 30 THEN
D OpenValve()
E ENDIF
F ENDWHILE

Answer Key

Automated systems in agriculture
Section A: Quick Questions
Q1
B — It signals the actuator to open the irrigation valve
Q2
A — The motor that opens the water valve
Q3
B — The microprocessor switches on the fan or opens the window motor
Q4
A — The heater
Q5
A — It measures the amount of water vapour in the air
Section B: Match the Pairs
Q1
IF moisture < 30 THEN valve OPEN → When the soil is too dry, the microprocessor makes the irrigation valve open to water the crops.
Q2
IF temp > 28 THEN window OPEN → When the greenhouse is too hot, the window motor opens the window to cool the air.
Q3
A light sensor lets the system turn on grow lights automatically when it is too dark for the plants → IF light < 40 THEN lamp ON
Q4
The microprocessor compares the temperature with a stored value and switches the heater on or off to keep the greenhouse warm enough → IF temp < 15 THEN heater ON ELSE heater OFF
Q5
IF moisture < 30 THEN sensor OPEN → A sensor only inputs data, so it cannot be opened. The irrigation valve is the actuator that should open.
Q6
IF humidity > 80 THEN heater ON → A heater does not remove damp air. The actuator for high humidity should be a fan or a window motor.
Section C: Definitions
Q1
agricultural automation — Sensors, a microprocessor and actuators keep crop conditions right, such as watering or heating a greenhouse, without a farmer checking all the time.
Section D: Fill in the Blanks
Q1
IF moisture < 30 THEN OPEN valve ENDIF
Q2
IF temperature > 28 THEN OPEN window ENDIF
Q3
IF temperature < 15 THEN TURN_ON heater ENDIF
Q4
IF light < 40 THEN TURN_ON growLights ENDIF
Q5
reading ← READ(humiditySensor) IF reading > 80 THEN START fan
Section E: Spot the Error
Q1
C — The valve would open when the soil is already wet. It should open when moisture is LESS than the limit: IF moisture < limit THEN.
Q2
D — When the greenhouse is too hot, the window motor should open the window to let heat out. It should be OpenWindow().
Q3
D — When the light level is low, the grow light must be switched ON to help the plants. It should be growLight ← ON.
Q4
C — An IF statement needs the keyword THEN after the condition. It should be IF humidity > target THEN.
Q5
A — The system must keep checking the sensor all the time without a farmer. WHILE FALSE means the loop never runs. It should be WHILE TRUE.