Read the text and answer the questionsAUTOMATION AND ROBOTICS Mechanisation refers to the process of providing human beings with machinery
capable of assisting them with the muscular requirements of work. A further development
of mechanisation is represented by automation, which implies the use of control
systems and information technologies to reduce the need for both physical and
mental work to produce goods. Automation has had a great impact on industries over the last century, changing
the world economy from industrial jobs to service jobs. In manufacturing, where the
process began, automation has meant that the desired results can be obtained through
a series of instructions made automatically by the system, which define the actions to
be done. Automated manufacturing grants higher consistency and quality, while reducing
lead times and handling. It also improves work flow and increases the morale
of workers when a good implementation of the automation is made. However, the purpose of automation cannot be seen only in terms of a reduction
of cost and time; there are several more aspects to be taken into consideration. For
example, while it is true that automation offers a higher precision in the manufacturing
process, it is also true that it requires skilled workers who can make repairs and
manage the machinery. The following table sums up the main advantages and disadvantages of automation: Advantages
- speeding up the developmental process of
society;
- replacing human operators in tasks that
involve hard physical or monotonous work;
- saving time and money as human operators can
be employed in higher-level work;
- replacing human operators in tasks done in
dangerous environments (fire, space, volcanoes, nuclear facilities,
underwater);
- higher reliability and precision in
performing tasks;
- economy improvement and higher productivity.
Disadvantages:
- disastrous effects on the environment
(pollution, traffic, energy consumption);
- sharp increase in unemployment rate due to
machines replacing human beings;
- technical limitations as current technology
is unable to automate all the desired tasks;
- security threats as an automated system may
have a limited level of intelligence and can make errors;
- unpredictable costs due to research and
development, which may exceed the cost saved by the automation itself;
- high initial costs as the automation of a new
product requires a large initial investment.Numerical control over automated devices has resulted in a rapidly expanding
range of applications and human activities. Computer-aided technologies (CAx) is a
broad term that means the use of computer systems to aid in the design, analysis, and
manufacture of products, by serving the basis for mathematical and organisational
tools used to create complex systems. It includes computer-aided design (CAD software)
and computer-aided manufacturing (CAM software). The current limit of computer-aided technologies is that some abilities are well
beyond the capabilities of modern mechanical and computer systems. Moreover, these
technologies require high-skilled engineers and the synthesis of complex sensory
data to work properly. As for costs involved, in some cases, automation is more expensive
than mechanical approach. Thanks to the incredible improvements in automation technology, a number of
other technologies have developed from it, such as domotics and robotics. Domotics is a field in building automation aimed at the application of automation
technologies in households for the comfort and security of its residents. This
means that lights, heating and conditioning systems, windows shutters, kitchen
equipment and surveillance systems can be controlled by a remote control or even by
a cell phone at a distance. Robotics is a special branch of automation in which the automated machines
have certain human features and are used to replace human workers in factory operations.
Robots are computer-controlled mechanical devices that are programmed to
move, manipulate objects and interact with the environment. Nowadays more and
more sophisticated robots are being built to serve various practical purposes, for example
in houses, businesses, in the army and for medical appliances for disabled
people.1. What does computer-aided technologies mean? 2. Which software does CAx include? 3. What are the current limits of CAx? 4. Can you name two applications of automation technologies? 5. How does a domotic house differ from a traditional house? 6. What are robots used for?