Industrial Automation Layout

An industrial automation system basically has a layout like on the left picture.

The top most part is the HMI (Human Machine Interface) where operators interact with the all automation system. It may consist screen, keyboard, LEDs, buttons, etc.

The second part is the Industrial Communication. HMI must communicate with the whole system to send control signals and receive information. On the physical layer, Industrial Ethernet, Serial Communication like RS-232/485/422, CANBus, etc. And Modbus, Fieldbus, or other protocols can be used as communication protocols between HMI and/or DAQ devices.

At the bottom part there are DAQ (data acquisition and control) devices. This devices control and measure outside world via actuators and sensors. They can control relays, motors and they can measure analog signals, read button status, count.

There are many companies that produce automation products. Automation engineers bring together this products together and set up a full automation system. All we need is to define system properly.

Industrial Automation with Micro Devices

Industrial automation is a huge area limited by the imagination. It is simply measuring and controlling the world with minimum aid of the humans. You can apply automation to a small coffee machine or an automotive factory.

We bring together small components to set up an automation system. In a factory automation, we use robots, conveyors, colour sensors, computers, PLCs, etc. There can be millions of components in a big automation system.

We start to build system from the top. Then, we go through bottom. But what is there in the most bottom? Yeah, pure electronics!

On MicroAutomate website and on this blog, i will dive inside of the electronics in automation. I hope one day they will become useful.