Current and Future Trends in Industrial Automation and AC Drives

MASTER OF ENGINEERING
(INDUSTRIAL AUTOMATION)-MIA
ME503 INDUSTRIAL PROCESS CONTROL SYSTEMS
ASSIGNMENT 2
V3.0
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ME501 POWER ENGINEERING PRINCIPLES FOR AUTOMATION
QUESTION 1
Discuss current and future trends in industrial automation and AC drives
CURRENT AND FUTURE TRENDS IN INDUSTRIAL AUTOMATION AND AC DRIVES
Researchers and designers have made huge strides over the years to improve the energy
efficiency, optimizing industrial applications and processes, as well as managing safety concerns
in the industries. Industries have for a long time run mechanical implementation and every
control, monitoring, and adjustments were performed manually. In the recent past, the
researchers and designers have come with better ways to enable the automation of the industrial
applications and processes. The automation focuses on energy conservation, minimization, and
optimization. It takes into consideration the economic benefits and safety and environment
conditions. The process of automation boasts of several advances that have reduced human
interaction with equipment and systems on site. For instance, an operator can control an entire
operation without being in the plant or at site. Industries are composed of storage systems,
handling systems, assembly lines, and production lines. The activities in these different areas are
monitored by actuators and sensors which are mounted at strategic points. The sensors collect
information that could trigger alerts, act as data loggers, and enable the operators to make
decisions from a remote location. The automation incorporates computer technology for
communication and control purposes. It involves hardware, firmware, and software [1].

figure 1: System showing an industrial automation [Source: Melbourne Lecture notes online]
Some of the manufacturing approaches towards automation seek to obtain flexible
manufacturing, quality programs, integration, and lead production. The automated system is
made of automated machine tools, transfer lines, automated assembly systems, industrial robots,
quality control inspection systems, and storage systems. Several studies have been carried out to
compare the production units before and after automation. There is an increase in the product
units within unit time alongside other merits such as labor cost, proper performance of repetitive
tasks. Some tasks in the industry that require a very high level of precision and accuracy are
performed to meet the required specifications using automated systems such as the CNC
machine. The industry workers are able to work in a safe environment, the manufacturing lead
time is reduced and much more tasks are carried out effectively and at a cost-friendly price.
Some industries produce harmful substance, which when expose to humans, may cause terminal
ailments. Industrial automation, especially in chemical industries, may allow for remote control
of production such that operators interact with finished products after going through a complete
storage and packaging process.
Synchronous motors are used in industrial applications where irrespective of the load, the
system provides constant speed. Applications that desire variable speeds such as cranes for off-
loading and loading tasks at port harbors use the induction motors. In the modern era, the ac