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Automation: What It Means to Us Around the World

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Springer Handbook of Automation

Part of the book series: Springer Handbooks ((SHB))

Abstract

The meaning of the term automation is reviewed through its definition and related definitions, historical evolution, technological progress, benefits and risks, and domains and levels of applications. A survey of 331 people around the world adds insights to the current meaning of automation to people, with regard to: What is your definition of automation? Where did you encounter automation first in your life? and What is the most important contribution of automation to society? The survey respondents include 12 main aspects of the definition in their responses; 62 main types of first automation encounter; and 37 types of impacts, mostly benefits but also two benefit–risks combinations: replacing humans, and humansʼ inability to complete tasks by themselves. The most exciting contribution of automation found in the survey was to encourage/inspire creative work; inspire newer solutions. Minor variations were found in different regions of the world. Responses about the first automation encounter are somewhat related to the age of the respondent, e.g., pneumatic versus digital control, and to urban versus farming childhood environment. The chapter concludes with several emerging trends in bioinspired automation, collaborative control and automation, and risks to anticipate and eliminate.

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Abbreviations

ABB:

Asea Brown Boveri

ACC:

adaptive cruise control

ACC:

automatic computer control

AI:

artificial intelligence

ASME:

American Society of Mechanical Engineers

BAC:

before automatic control

BCC:

before computer control

CCT:

collaborative control theory

CIM:

computer integrated manufacturing

CNC:

computer numerical control

DA:

data acquisition

DNC:

direct numerical control

ERP:

enterprise resource planning

FMS:

field message specification

FMS:

flexible manufacturing system

FMS:

flight management system

GAMP:

good automated manufacturing practice

HMI:

human machine interface

IL:

instruction list

ISA:

instruction set architecture

LAN:

local-area network

MIS:

management information system

MIS:

minimally invasive surgery

MIT:

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

MIT:

miles in-trail

MUX:

multiplexor

NC:

numerical control

PLC:

programmable logic controller

SCADA:

supervisory control and data acquisition

TV:

television

UR:

universal relay

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. PRISM Center and School of Industrial Engineering, Purdue University, 47907, West Lafayette, IN, USA

    Shimon Y. Nof Prof

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  1. Shimon Y. Nof Prof
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Correspondence to Shimon Y. Nof Prof .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. PRISM Center, and School of Industrial Engineering, Purdue University, 315 N. Grant Street, 47907, West Lafayette, IN, USA

    Shimon Y. Nof

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© 2009 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

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Nof, S.Y. (2009). Automation: What It Means to Us Around the World. In: Nof, S. (eds) Springer Handbook of Automation. Springer Handbooks. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-540-78831-7_3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-540-78831-7_3

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-540-78830-0

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-540-78831-7

  • eBook Packages: EngineeringEngineering (R0)

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