BRUSH UP YOUR ENGINEERING SKILLS (Robotics, Mechatronics, Automation). Учебное пособие

Text 1: History of Automation in Manufacturing

improving and were being adopted across the globe to reduce the manual labor required in:

•Hamme rmills

•Saw mills

•Paper mills

•Ore-crushing mills

•Tool-sharpening mills.

17th to 18th Century: Industrial Revolution

Originating in Western Europe, the 17th century industrial revolution was a major turning point in the evolution of industrial automation. During this era, the invention of steam engines, steam mills and internal combustion engines had mostly replaced the need for watermills and windmills. In 1785, Oliver Evans had also developed an automatic flour mill which was history’s first completely automated industrial process by being able to have continuous production without any human intervention.

In 1867, James Clerk Maxwell published a paper establishing the beginnings of a theoretical basis for understanding control theory. Industrialized factories continued being adopted to mass produce materials such as cotton, paper, plastics, glass, and metals in much higher volumes with greater efficiency. As the technology and processes of the industrial revolution had spread across the globe, the economy, transportation, health, and medicines worldwide were all growing exponentially.

1900 to 1950s: Electrification & Industrial Controllers

Around the 1920s, the evolution of industrial automation accelerated rapidly as factories began making use of relay logic and underwent electrification - the process of powering by electricity. Expanding use of central electric power stations combined with the operation of new high-pressure boilers, electrical substations and steam turbines resulted in a growing demand for instruments and controls.

Manufacturing plants started transitioning to electric motors and fewer facilities continued with front line shaft and belt drives using steam engines. During this transition, manufacturing facilities experienced about 30% increases in output. This was because electric motors had much greater efficiency compared to steam engines, required less maintenance, and did not experience the high friction losses from line shafts and belts.

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Unit 4. Automation

Color-coded lights from control rooms were required to send signals for factory workers to make manual changes such as opening or closing valves and turning switches on or off. This is a type of process control known as “on-off”. In the

1930s, controllers were introduced into the industry to enable calculated changes as a response to disturbances from the set point. Solid-state digital logic modules for hard-wired programmed logic controllers were being adopted by industrial control systems for process control and automation in 1958. As the predecessors of programmable logic controllers (PLC) used today, they gradually replaced most of our needs for electro-mechanical relay logic.

2th to 21st Century: Computers & Robotics

In 1971, the invention of microprocessors resulted in large price drops for computer hardware and allowed the rapid growth of digital controls in the manufacturing industry. Our constant advancements in computer technology up till this day continues to advance the evolution of industrial automation. With digital computers, manufacturing facilities were now able to have controllers which can perform more complex tasks at faster speeds and greater efficiency.

As technology continued in advancements, the evolution of robotic process automation was becoming more prominent in manufacturing facilities. Victor

Scheinman, an American pioneer of the robotics field had invented the “Stanford arm” in 1969. It was designed to permit an arm solution as a 6-axis articulated all-electric robot. This shaped a path for robots to have the potential of performing more complex tasks such as welding and assembly. In 1973, Europe was making huge advancements in industrial robotics by bringing robots to the market through ABB Robotics and KUKA Robotics.

The robots in today’s factories are now used for almost every existing assembly and manufacturing process. Not only do robots remove humans from hazardous environments, but they also help lower costs for business owners to stay competitive by increasing energy efficiency, productivity, accuracy, and precision for better production quality. We can now see the evolution of robotic process automation in processes such as:

•Glass manufacturing

•Pulp and paper mills

•Food and beverage processing

•Automotive assembly

•Natural gas separation

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Text 1: History of Automation in Manufacturing

•Electrical power generation

•Electronics manufacturing

•Canning and bottling.

Evolution of Home Automation

The evolution of automation in everyday life is most noticeable when we get to experience it in our homes daily. As electrification started growing in the 19th century, it has been estimated that 70% of U.S. households were electrified around 1930. Electrical power distribution led to the potential for homeowners to have a means of powering early home appliances such as:

•Water heaters

•Clothes dryers

•Dish washers

•Refrigerators

•Vacuum cleaners

•Washing machines

•Sewing machines.

Although many of these home appliances started out being too expensive for most households, the gradual introduction into the market combined with improving technologies eventually made them more affordable.

In the 1970s, the large drop in price for computer hardware resulted in the price of electronics to drop significantly. This allowed domestic appliances to be more accessible for home uses. In the 1990s to 2000s, internet technology was developing significantly. This allowed for smart homes to become more affordable, resulting in an increase in popularity for home automation. Home automation can be easily found in today’s modern homes with smart technologies such as automatic lights, HVAC controls, safety & security systems, TV lifts and entertainment controls. All these smart technologies are now something we can conveniently access through a smart phone with the compatible smart home apps. With working from home becoming more common practice, we have also seen a rise in demand for electric standing desks. (8)

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Unit 4. Automation

4. Правильно употребить предлоги:

in evolution … robotics of … the beginning

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Text 1: History of Automation in Manufacturing

into a type … machinery since … Europe

… 1867

are introduced … industry most … needs

5.Образовать степени сравнения следующих прилагательных: simple – early – great – fast – low – good – affordable – high – large

6.Соотнести слово и его определение:

7. Найти в тексте перевод слов и словосочетаний:

1водяное колесо;

2достижения;

3пригодный для использования;

4лесопильный завод;

5постоянный;

6скорость;

7опасный;

8точность;

9значительно;

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Unit 4. Automation

10качество;

11инструмент;

12использование;

13улучшать;

14вмешательство человека;

15теория управления;

16решающий момент;

17в геометрической прогрессии;

18вручную;

19точка зрения.

9. Употребить слова в предложениях в правильной форме:

1.He challenged the … of the research results.

2.The only … to the village is by boat.

3.There's no money … for an office party this year.

4.The government should be playing a more … role in promoting human

rights.

5.An increase in average temperature by only a few degrees could cause environmental problems … .

6.Some kinds of trees grow to a huge … .

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Text 1: History of Automation in Manufacturing

10. Подобрать русское словосочетание, соответствующее английскому:

11. Составить слова:

auto

in

12. Найти слова по теме “Automation”:

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Unit 4. Automation

13.Определить слова в данной цепочке: artificialoomanufacturingrowheelearnewatermillsystemilestonef-

ficiencyeareducexpandeveloproductivity.

14.Догадаться, что это за слово:

Text 2: The Evolution of Automation

The evolution and history of automationcan be traced back to the early 18th century during the first industrial revolution, where mechanization of production processes and invention of the steam engine led to the creation of the first automated machines.

Here are a few key milestones in the evolution of automation:

•18th century: The invention of the spinning jenny and power loom automated the process of spinning and weaving.

•19th century: The invention of new machines such as the steam hammer and Bessemer converter further advanced automation.

•Early 20th century: Henry Ford revolutionized mass production with the introduction of the assembly line.

•Mid20th century: The invention of programmable controllers and the development of electronic and computer technology, led to greater automation in manufacturing and other industries.

•Late 20th century: The widespread use of robots in manufacturing and other industries became increasingly common.

•21st century: The advent of new technologies such as artificial intelligence, machine learning, and IoT, have enabled machines to perform more complex tasks and make decisions autonomously.

How did the Industrial Revolution affect Automation.

The Industrial Revolution, which began in the late 18th century, greatly impacted the development of automation. The mechanization of production

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Text 2: The Evolution of Automation

processes and the invention of new manufacturing techniques greatly increased the efficiency and productivity of manufacturing. Some key ways in which the Industrial Revolution affected automation include:

•Mechanization: The invention of new machines such as the spinning jenny and power loom automated the process of spinning and weaving, greatly increasing the efficiency of textile production.

•Power sources: The invention of the steam engine provided a new source of power that could be used to operate machines. This greatly increased the speed and efficiency of manufacturing.

•Assembly lines: The introduction of the assembly line by Henry Ford in the early 20th century greatly increased the efficiency of mass production. This allowed for the automation of repetitive tasks and greatly increased the output of factories.

•Control systems: The Industrial Revolution led to the development of new control systems, such as programmable controllers, that allowed machines to be controlled by computer programs. This made it possible to automate repetitive and complex tasks.

•Robotics: The industrial revolution led to the development of robots that could perform tasks such as welding, painting, and assembling with high precision and efficiency.

Overall, the Industrial Revolution greatly advanced the development of automation and set the stage for further advancements in the future.

How did Electrification & Industrial Controllers affect Automation

The combination of electrification and industrial controllers has had a significant impact on the development of automation.

Electrification allowed for the use of electric motors to power machinery, which greatly increased the speed and efficiency of manufacturing processes. Electric motors are easier to control and automate compared to mechanical power sources such as steam engines. Electric motors also enabled the development of new types of machines and automation systems, such as robots and automated assembly lines.

Industrial controllers, such as Programmable Logic Controllers (PLCs) and Distributed Control Systems (DCS), allowed for greater control and automation of industrial processes. These controllers use a programmable memory for logic,

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Unit 4. Automation

sequencing, timing, counting, and arithmetic functions. They can also communicate with other machines and systems, and can be operated remotely, which greatly increased the flexibility of automation systems.

The combination of electrification and industrial controllers enabled the development of more advanced automation systems, such as robotics, computerintegrated manufacturing, and smart factories. These systems are able to perform more complex tasks, make decisions autonomously, and adapt to changing production demands.

Overall, electrification and industrial controllers have played a significant role in the development of automation and have greatly increased the efficiency, productivity, and safety of industrial processes.

How did Computers & Robotics affect Automation

The development of computers and robotics has had a major impact on automation.

Computers greatly increased the ability to control and automate industrial processes by providing the necessary computing power and memory to perform complex calculations and process large amounts of data. They also enabled the development of advanced control systems, such as Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) systems and computer-integrated manufacturing (CIM) systems. Robotics, which is the use of machines that can be programmed to perform tasks autonomously, greatly increased the ability to automate repetitive and dangerous tasks. Robotics systems can perform tasks such as welding, painting, and assembling with high precision and efficiency. Robotics systems have been widely adopted in manufacturing, assembly, and other industrial processes.

Combined with the industrial controllers, computers and robotics have enabled the development of smart factories, which are highly automated and connected and can adapt to changing production demands.

Additionally, the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) technologies into robotics has led to the development of autonomous robots and machines that can perceive, reason and adapt to changing environments, make decisions, and learn from experience.

Overall, computers and robotics have played a significant role in the development of automation by providing the necessary computing power and control

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