FROM ELECTRIC MOTORS TO FLEXIBLE MANUFACTURING: CONTROL TECHNOLOGY DRIVES INDUSTRIAL AUTOMATION

Abstract Industrial Automation has evolved from stand-alone, hard-wired relay panels to a contemporary, networked system that supports flexible manufacturing and enterprise integration. From precision control of machines and robots on the factory floor to flexible coordination of multiple cells of automation, advancements in control technologies have driven the evolution of industrial automation. The confluence of five technologies, control, computing, communications, software, and materials, is shaping the future direction of industrial automation systems. This paper summarizes the major technical trends, and highlights the continuing opportunities and challenges for the application of control technologies in industrial automation.