What Does Automation Actually Mean?

You may be in the market to purchase an automated system but do you really know what automation means?

Robotics sales continue ticking upward with 179,000 industrial robotics units sold worldwide. That's 12 percent more than in 2012, according to the latest figures from the International Federation of Robotics. RIA’s latest North American numbers through the first nine months of 2014 show a record number year in robot sales. Despite the growth, automation is filled with myths and misunderstandings.

Let's clarify the subject with some key definitions and terms.

Automation is All Around Us

You open the lid, dump clothes into the washing machine, set the controls and press start. The machine begins filling with water and the agitator starts turning and when the wash and rinse cycles are complete, you return and take out your clean clothes.

In today's world of robots using vision sensors to sort and pick packages and working alongside people in factories, a washing machine may not seem like an example of automation.

Yet, washing machines and dryers have made it possible to stop using washboards and hand cranks to wash and dry clothes. The University of Stuttgart listed the popular household appliance in a list of automated technologies and placed it under the definition of a "technical process during which material, energy, or information is altered in its state." A washing machine alters dirty clothes so they become clean.

In the 2004 write up, the author wrote that automation leads to a "simplified and more convenient operation" whether at a place like a refinery or inside a house. Click here for the complete document in a pdf version.

Companies of all sizes and across industries have discovered these and other benefits of automation.

On the Factory Floor

Manufacturers and suppliers like Sure Controls have defined automation more closely for their customers: "Industrial automation is the use of control systems, such as computers or robots, and information technologies for handling different processes and machineries in an industry.”."

This is a step beyond mechanization and shows how changes are making automation more user-friendly than ever and accessible to small businesses. There are also more terms to know so you get a better understanding of how automation can impact your company.

Let's Dig Deeper

Here are a few terms that clarify trends in automation.

Fixed cell automation

This is where a system stays in one place, usually on an assembly line, and performs one specific task. The investment in this type of system has worked well for car manufacturers and in applications like spot welding. Small companies that want to adapt to changes and opportunities in the marketplace may not invest in this system if it means re-tooling has an additional cost.

Flexible automation

Here is the answer for smaller manufacturers. These are usually table-top robotic arms that are programmed to perform different tasks. Software features and hardware support drive the operation as described in this article from the Robotic Industries Association on the design and architecture of robots.

Cage free robots

Safety is the most important trait for these robots. These machines can work alongside people and are built with advanced motion control sensors to detect interference with their field of operation. They've become popular because companies don't have to reconfigure factory floor space to account for safety guards.

Click the title to read an article in Industry Week Setting the Safety Standard for Cage-Free Robots to take a further look into the evolving issues around safety standards.

Automation is a dynamic field with exciting advances taking place each year. Stay on top with the latest developments and terminology with regular visits to A3.