Automation

Automation or automatic control, is the use of various control systems for operating equipment such as machinery, processes in factories, boilers and heat treating ovens, switching on telephone networks, steering and stabilization of ships, aircraft and other applications with minimal or reduced human intervention. Some processes have been completely automated.

The biggest benefit of automation is that it saves labor, however, it is also used to save energy and materials and to improve quality, accuracy and precision.

The term automation, inspired by the earlier word automatic (coming from automaton), was not widely used before 1947, when General Motors established an automation department. It was during this time that industry was rapidly adopting feedback controllers, which were introduced in the 1930s.

Automation has been achieved by various means including mechanical, hydraulic, pneumatic, electrical, electronic devices and computers, usually in combination. Complicated systems, such as modern factories, airplanes and ships typically use all these combined techniques.

Automation (video game)

Automation is an upcoming video game from Camshaft Software for Microsoft Windows that allows the player to create a virtual car company complete with products (vehicles).

The game currently in development allows design, creation and testing of various vehicle platforms along with creating custom drivetrains. More features will become available closer to full release date.

There are three components to the game: engine design, car design, and a tycoon simulator. The engine design component was released first in order to drive demand for pre-orders and fund the development of the rest of the game. As of April 2014, it had sold 10,000 pre-orders. In April 2015, pre-orders reached 25,000. It is available as a standalone application and via Steam.

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Automation (disambiguation)

Automation is the process of self-reliability. Automation can also refer to:

Computing

Others