Automation

What is Meant by Automation ??
OK, every time we looks for a mean of any word we direct search for the dictionary. what does the dictionary say??
It says that AUTOMATION is :
use of control systems such as computers, pre-programmed devices, automated assembly lines... etc etc to do tasks instead of Humans so that the load on human operators is reduced leading to a better quality product with fewer overheads and minimal throughput time.

Brief History:
I don't if you know but The Industrial  Automation started at 1850 that mean from nearly over 150 years . i think it was about hydraulics and pneumatics.
That what i believed but here it is the truth automation is known from old ages at  the Pharaohs and the Greeks.
It was in the form of " hero's temple doors".

so they depend on the power of steam and its pressure .

after that  William Gilbert "Father of Electricity" discover the Electricity then Thomas Edison come to invent the electric light bulb till now there is no direct use for the new invent in industry and it is all still depend on hydraulics and pneumatics. the only use for electricity is lighting.

In 1831, Michael Faraday put the basics for building an electrical motor then In 1881 Nicola Tesla Invent the first AC Motor to start a revolution in industry.

of Course these motors needs to be controlled so there was the classic control using Electromagnetic contactor and Relays.
                        

but this type of control has a lot of disadvantages and that make it not enough and inflexible.
so after the electronic revolution in 1950 after inventing the Transistors and reaching the invention of Integrated circuits (ICs) There were that Kind of cards with a microprocessor Chips to control These Contactors.

Then There were the microcomputer systems to be used in automation systems.
and that ws followed by the great invention " programmable Logic Controller" -PLC- to replaced the re-wiring of hard-wired control panels and give a small size device compared with industrial microcomputer.
and of course till now there are a lot of developments in PLCs.
there are three types of Programing languages for PC:
1- Graphical languages:
   ♦ ladder diagrams (LD).
   ♦ Function Block Diagram FBD).
2- Text-based languages:
    ♦ instruction list (IL).
    ♦ structured text (ST).
3- Flowchart Language:
    ♦ sequential function charts (SFCs).

                 

     

Till now we supposed to Talk about automation but we only talk about the control part in an automation System.
there are actually other parts we should Talk about :
- Inputs: Sensors, Switches ..... etc.
- Outputs: Actuators.
After that we will reach to the SCADA System to connect all these parts together via an industrial network to be Controlled and monitored.
 

Also any Process needs to be Controlled using any type of Control methods : ON/OFF, P, PI, PID Control.

Also industrial Networks will be discussed.

A Complete view of Industrial Automation System :

here we reach to the end. hope you enjoy and if there are any mistakes it just come As a result of tiredness and fatigue and please give me a feedback.

Thanks.