Applications of Automation and Robotics in Industry

Manufacturing is one of the most important applica­tion areas for automation technology. There are several types of automation in manufacturing. The examples of automated systems used in manufacturing are described below.

1. Fixed automation, sometimes called «hard automa­tion» refers to automated machines in which the equip­mentconfiguration allows fixed sequence of processing operations. These machines are programmed by their design to make only certain processing operations. They are not easily changed over from one product style to another. This form of automation needs high initial in­vestments and high production rates. That is why it is suitable for products that are made in large volumes. Examples of fixed automation are machining transfer lines found in the automobile industry, automatic assem­bly machines and certain chemical processes.

2. Programmable automation is a form of automation for producing products in large quantities, ranging from several dozen to several thousand units at a time. For each new product the production equipment must be reprogrammed and changed over. This reprogramming and changeover take a period of non-productive time. Production rates in programmable automation are generally lower than in fixed automation, because the equipment is designed to facilitate product changeoverrather than for product specialization. A numerical-control machine-tool is a good example of programmable automation. The program is coded in computer memory for each differ­ent product style and the machine-tool is controlled by the computer programme.

3. Flexible automation is a kind of programmable au­tomation. Programmable automation requires time to re-program and change over the production equipment for each series of new product. This is lost production time, which is expensive. In flexible automation the number of products is limited so that the changeover of the equip­ment can be done very quickly and automatically. The reprogramming of the equipment in flexible automation is done at a computer terminal without using the pro­duction equipment itself. Flexible automation allows a mixture of different products to be produced one right after another.

17. Ответьте на следующие вопросы:

1. How is the term “automation” defined in the text? 2. What is the most “familiar example” of automation given in the text? 3. What was the first step in the development of automation? 4. What were the first robots originally designed for? 5. What is feedback principle? 6. What do the abbreviations CAM and CAD stand for? 7. What is FMS? 8. What industries use automation technologies? 9. What is the most important application of automation? 10. What are the types of automation used in manufacturing? 11. What is fixed automation? 12. What are the limitations of hard automation? 13. What is the best example of programmable automation? 14. What are the advantages of flexible automation? 15. Is it possible to produce different products one after another using automation technology?

Перескажите текст, дав ответы на вопросы упражнения 17.

19. Запомните следующие слова:

however – однако midget – очень маленькое существо

finally – наконец recently – недавно

inside – внутри really – действительно

smart – остроумный, находчивый serve - служить

Прочтите текст и скажите: а) дается ли объяснение слову «робот»; б) в какой области описывается применение робота.