Industrial Automation in simpler way means measurement and automated control of a process. From automobile engine control systems to home thermostats to aircraft autopilots to the manufacture of pharmaceutical drugs, automation surrounds us.
This chapter explains some of the fundamental principles of industrial instrumentation.
The first step, naturally, is measurement. If we can’t measure something, it is really pointless to try to control it. This “something” usually takes one of the following forms in industry:
• Fluid pressure
• Fluid flow rate
• The temperature of an object
• Fluid volume s tor ed in a vessel
• Chemical concentration
• Machine position, motion, or acceleration
• Physical dimension(s ) of an object
• Count (inventor y) of objects
• Electrical voltage, current, or resistance
Once we measure the quantity we are inter es ted in, we usually transmit a signal representing this quantity to an indicating or computing device where either human or automated action then takes place. If the controlling action is automated, the computer sends a signal to a final controlling
device which then influences the quantity being measured.
Embedded v/s PLC
I have heard a question often how PLC is different from micro-controller. I think can answer it well as I have worked in embedded system projects in my college and in industrial automation projects as a part of my job. Conceptually I find both of them same as their purpose is to automate or control a device or process with minimum human intervention. They contradict in the aspect that the former is used for controlling a specific device like a robot arm while the latter is used for controlling a whole total process like production in a factory where the number of inputs and outputs to be dealt are in very large nos comparatively and uses a customized version of micro-controller i.e PLC.
Embedded systems involves deeper knowledge on coding rather than the process which is vice versa for industrial automation. There can be independent embedded systems as a part of the PLC centralised industrial automation
This chapter explains some of the fundamental principles of industrial instrumentation.
The first step, naturally, is measurement. If we can’t measure something, it is really pointless to try to control it. This “something” usually takes one of the following forms in industry:
• Fluid pressure
• Fluid flow rate
• The temperature of an object
• Fluid volume s tor ed in a vessel
• Chemical concentration
• Machine position, motion, or acceleration
• Physical dimension(s ) of an object
• Count (inventor y) of objects
• Electrical voltage, current, or resistance
Once we measure the quantity we are inter es ted in, we usually transmit a signal representing this quantity to an indicating or computing device where either human or automated action then takes place. If the controlling action is automated, the computer sends a signal to a final controlling
device which then influences the quantity being measured.
Embedded v/s PLC
I have heard a question often how PLC is different from micro-controller. I think can answer it well as I have worked in embedded system projects in my college and in industrial automation projects as a part of my job. Conceptually I find both of them same as their purpose is to automate or control a device or process with minimum human intervention. They contradict in the aspect that the former is used for controlling a specific device like a robot arm while the latter is used for controlling a whole total process like production in a factory where the number of inputs and outputs to be dealt are in very large nos comparatively and uses a customized version of micro-controller i.e PLC.
Embedded systems involves deeper knowledge on coding rather than the process which is vice versa for industrial automation. There can be independent embedded systems as a part of the PLC centralised industrial automation
