Feedback/Control Systems

–       Allows car to travel at constant speed- an advantage promoting safety on roads; prevents violation of speed limits

–       Increases consumer comfort

–       Car is more efficient and uses less fuel due to constant speed

–       Decrease in fuel consumption allows decrease in pollution and harmful emissions.

–       Can lead to delayed braking thus potentially increasing road accidents

–       Varying road textures can effect grip of tire and this corrective actions by driver

–       Temperature can be automatically controlled within a room

–       Energy conservation through temperature control- for example: once a room has reached the desired temperature, the air conditioner will be automatically shut down as to prevent excess energy consumption

–       A constant controlled temperature is maintained, therefore removing any fluctuations in temperature cause by human error

–       Remote operated thermostats can allow you to change the temperature from anywhere in a room

–       Can’t detect humidity of air

–       At times program interface can be hard to understand and maneuver

–       Not energy smart- the thermostat is only able to save energy when allowed (i.e.: once the room has reached a desired temperature), however it is not energy smart in the sense that it can’t minimize energy consumption in the long run. (i.e.: as soon as the temperature falls below set value the air conditioner is started again and operated until desired temperature is reach— a process taking hours depending on the of the room)

–       Able to move more efficiently within a building

–       Able to carry heavy objects to higher altitudes with more ease

–       Increases comfort, speed, height and energy efficiency [in terms of human exertion]

–       Replacement components for an elevator are readily available

–       Limitation to the number and size of objects able to fit within the lift

–       Limitation to the overall weight of the objects inside the lift- this can prove to decrease the overall efficiency as multiple trips will be carried out to perform a given task

–       Breakdown of lifts can cause inconvenience for consumers

–       Unable to remove any obstructions between the doors

–       Some elevators without door sensors are unable to detect obstructions between the doors

–       The door doesn’t have to be touched to be opened- this can help elderly consumers, reduce the spreading of infection and help those unable to open doors (i.e.: hand are preoccupied)

–       An automated door can help decrease the time required to open a door and thus marginally increase inefficiency. (An advantage more suitable in busy workplaces, for example a hospital)

–       Time delay in opening doors- this time delay can often lead to accidents if a person or moving object is approaching the door too fast.

–       The direction in which it opens- at times the direction in which the door opens can be unclear. A disadvantage such as this could cause injured to consumers if they approach the door too close and aren’t able to react fast enough to opening door.

–       The force at which the door opens- often these automated doors do not control the force at which they open, but only function to open doors. Hence the lack of ability to sense other items within its peripheral can lead to the doors colliding with other objects that aren’t directly in front of it (but rather on the sides of the doors).