Automation and Robotics

Automation is the creation of technology and its application in order to control and monitor the production and delivery of various goods and services. It performs tasks that were previously performed by humans. Automation is being used in a number of areas such as manufacturing, transport, utilities, defense, facilities, operations and lately, information technology.

One of the earliest practical applications of automation was in telephone switching. The first switching machines, invented near the end of the 19th century, were simple mechanical switches that were remotely controlled by the telephone user pushing buttons or turning a dial on the phone. Modern electronic telephone switching systems are based on highly sophisticated digital computers that perform functions such as monitoring thousands of telephone lines, determining which lines require service, storing the digits of each telephone number as it is being dialed, setting up the required connections, sending electrical signals to ring the receiver’s phone, monitoring the call during its progress, and disconnecting the phone when the call is completed. These systems also are used to time and bill toll calls and to transmit billing information and other data relative to the business operations of the phone company. In addition to the various functions mentioned, the newest electronic systems automatically transfer calls to alternate numbers, call back the user when busy lines become free, and perform other customer services in response to dialed codes. These systems also perform function tests on their own operations, diagnose problems when they arise, and print out detailed instructions for repairs.