The Future of Industrial Automation
Industrial automation was a revolutionary way for global industries to increase overall production. Since we live in a world filled with technological advancements, it is understood that this particular part will improve and advance as time goes by.
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Utilizing new technologies is the only way for industries to survive in this particular world filled with competition. At the same time, numerous companies tend to create specific requirements and applications that will allow them to create customized products.
Therefore, innovation is something that has to affect this particular industry, as well. When we analyze the last few decades, innovation within the world of industrial automation proliferated.
The first thing that happened was the implementation of PLC or programmable logic controller with an idea to replace relay logic applications.
Since relay logic was problematic, especially for troubleshooting, PLCs generated growth in the areas where relays were challenging to implement.
Today, controllers are more reliable, especially compared with relay contacts because you can reprogram them in no time without affecting the production lines and causing downtime.
Growth in production allowed manufacturers to increase their revenues, especially when it comes to car manufacturers.
The main reason for that is the long and productive life of the programmable logic controller, and even today, it is the efficient and best way to control various automated processes.
At the same moment, when controllers entered the market, other innovations came through as well, including controlling computers that could affect single or multiple applications.
Instead of using substantial central mainframes located in central control rooms, manufacturers started using minicomputers, which were more efficient and convenient. Still, PLCs were large hardware with numerous inputs and outputs that required handling and minimizing.
The personal computer brought us to a point where we can use affordable software and hardware, which increased the functionality of DCS and reduces complexity and expenses in industrial surroundings.
Even though this was not the crucial innovation when compared with the past times, these extensions were developed for massive consumption and market to handle industrial automation requirements that are essential.
When it comes to sensors, the other innovations and developments entered the market and generated broad production increased for particular industries. Since the proper marketing and perfect specs lead to the implementation of differential pressure flow sensors, they became a necessity.
At the same time, other technologies entered the market that leads to significant industrial growth. Finally, automation software did not reach the heights as other parts of this particular industry. Of course, the future will bring embedded software within systems and products.
You can find numerous software options that will provide you a wide array of services and solutions for exceptional results. However, you will need additional hardware in the form of a PC so that you can successfully transfer it to PLC.
As you can see, the innovations in automation technology will lead to increased industrial production, which is the main goal that manufacturers are trying to achieve.
Even though it is challenging to determine which trends will become the central part of market innovations, the idea is to check out the processes that are happening and conclude based on the previous experience.
Generally, efficiency means that industries can use more affordable and smaller controllers for the same amount as before and without affecting their functionality.
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New Directions
When it comes to industrial automation, we can easily say that it will achieve fantastic growth due to technological advancements, including nanotechnology, nanotech sensors, MEMS, and Nano-scale assembly systems.
These advancements will be able to effectively measure anything and create the perfect settings for communication between machines.
Another thing that we can expect include real-time systems that will provide you both multi-processing and adaptive system that will adapt based on your preferences and settings that surround them.
Today, you can find basic versions of software applications that will include peer-to-peer networks and wireless sensors.
Their main goal is to create a setting in which small systems will use wireless nodes to communicate with more substantial and more complicated systems than before.
We are talking about the future, in which machines will be able to communicate with each other so that you can get real-time data.
The Completely Automated Plants
Automated processes and factories are not popular enough due to the high price tag that comes with each design change and modification. At the same time, it requires complete flexibility for the successful configuration of the entire production line without human intervention.
However, we can expect that the processes will include the control elements from tiniest details to the most significant ones.
You have probably seen the movies in which fully automated factories operate without human-factor. Of course, they exist in the necessary forms, including electronic transactions, online customer orders.
However, we are talking about sophisticated machines and robots that will fabricate numerous products on-demand without any additional problem. The remote-controlled automation is entering the manufacturing as well as maintenance.
Instead of using the old machines for essential automation, plants are using super-robots that do not require people and employees around.
Of course, the main problem is the speed of communication, but with the latest internet protocols, networked machines will create more effective settings than any other form from the past.
Automated processes depend on the communication support, which means that the plants will include fast networks, numerous sensors, flexible interfaces, quality diagnostic software as well as other signs of reliability that will reduce the chances of downtime.
These machines can correct potential errors, conduct hierarchical diagnosis, and provide you data about solutions promptly.
The centralized production with a large number of employees is changing because the future will include movable and compact productions that you can relocate depending on the customers and resources.
The future will bring the ability to move your plant to reach the raw material instead of transporting it to the factory. A completely different approach will change the way we perceive the industry that surrounds us.