Automation has become a hot topic recently for excellent reasons. The benefits of automation are numerous, and its uses are almost limitless. Here I'll be exploring several ways in which automation is used across multiple fields and how it can make life easier for us all.
How does automation work?
To begin with, let's talk about how automation works and why we want to use it. There are two types of automated processes:
soft (or virtual) and
hard (or real).
A typical example of a hard process is prestressing steel, where you take a long bar of steel and bend it into a horseshoe shape to put the steel under tension before welding it into place permanently - that would be a hard process.
A soft process is where the work is done virtually, through a computer. Imagine designing a new part for an engine, this would be a long and arduous task if you did it by hand, but once designed in your CAD/CAM program, it can be cut out automatically with no chance of human error.
Another example of how automation helps with design is 3D printing, where parts are built up atom by atom-by-layer until they form the finished product. This eliminates waste and saves time-critical components in engineering.
What are the benefits of automation?
Companies such as EU Automation are around to support businesses in multiple fields to make life that little bit easier. Even processes that have been around for decades or even centuries can benefit from automation in some form or another - the classic example of this is color-separated printing. The original process involved a lot of manual labor - the individual parts would be created as separate plates and then brought together to create the final picture/advertisement/what have you. Automating this process has been revolutionary for the industry.
Visit https://www.procircuitinc.com/industrial-electrical/plc-installation-programming/ to read more on logic controllers needed for automation. It means that companies don't need to employ as many workers or hire those with highly specialized skill sets, which was previously necessary for this type of work.
Bomb disposal robot: bomb disposal robots are a great example of how automation can improve safety for human workers.
In the field of Engineering: it's common to use automation wherever possible - things like machine tools and assembly lines have been automating various tasks for decades now. In the most complex of processes, such as building an entire car from scratch, it's almost impossible for humans to keep up with the pace of the automated machines.
The aviation industry: Aviation always aims to improve its safety and reliability. Still, it isn't easy to achieve both simultaneously, so automation has been a boon for this industry as well. CNC machining services are a prime example of how automation contributes to aviation, providing high precision and efficiency in manufacturing critical components. There are two primary examples of how automation helps and how it has become fundamental to the aviation industry, where the demand for accuracy, safety, and performance is paramount:
Firstly, in the air traffic control tower. If every pilot had to talk to a human tower controller, the volume of aircraft that would be in the sky at any one time would lead to a considerable backlog and many frustrated pilots and passengers.
Nowadays, the tower only has to communicate with an automated system called ASDE-X - this takes care of all of the control and coordination between aircraft, allowing human controllers to focus on specific problems that may arise.
Secondly is the autopilot function on a plane - this frees up a pilot to focus on other important matters while the plane continues on its course without any input from the crew.
How do we benefit personally?
But automation does not just apply to industrial processes - a lot of our daily lives are being changed by industrialization. From smart appliances such as 'smart' televisions and smartphones to intelligent transport systems such as Google's self-driving cars (an idea that has been around since the 1950s but has recently become viable thanks to modern technology); automation is everywhere, and it's only set to increase in the coming years.
The benefits of this are apparent - more efficiency means lower costs, which can be passed on to consumers, freeing up time to do other (more important) things with their lives. Who would say no to that?
Any downside to automation?
Some people oppose this new tech-focused world we live in - these included renowned physicist Stephen Hawking, who feared that ever-increasing reliance on tech would ultimately end in disaster. Perhaps one day even leading us into an apocalyptic situation (he gives the example of Skynet from Terminator as a potential outcome).
Yet, some feel that Hawking's fears will never come to fruition. And just because automation is becoming more prevalent, that doesn't mean that things like personal relationships and self-care will be forgotten - people will still have time for these things, even if it does seem they're becoming rarer nowadays.
The future
Automation is an exciting field right now, with many possibilities opening up as new technology becomes available. We'll no doubt see a lot of innovation in the coming years - so, sit back and enjoy the show!