We found 256 posts about Automation Technologies from DO Supply, a global automation parts
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Mass production – the manufacturing of products on a vast scale, based on principles such as interchangeable parts, high-volume assembly lines, and the resulting large-scale production – has been developing since the 1800s. Just as today’s mass production looks very different from the times when steam power was a brand new invention, the technology powering tomorrow’s mass production, and the idea of mass production itself, is also set to be very different. Some of the core concepts of mass production are likely to remain relatively unchanged. The division of labor into specialized tasks to enable minimal handling or positioning, the simplification and standardization of component parts, the development of machines, materials, and processes and finally, planning the entire process from obtaining raw materials through to delivery of the final product will all still need to work in unison to reduce the cost of production while increasing the quality of the products being made. Below we...
Manufacturers have traditionally been at the forefront of technological developments, adopting new practices and technologies to cut down production times, costs, and waste since the early 1900’s. Recent developments in AI, machine learning, connection to the IoT, and blockchain, are already being incorporated into manufacturing businesses. Smart manufacturing is becoming more and more common as it grows through the adoption of sensors throughout production lines and the increased connectivity of machines and systems; it could be said that manufacturing is entering a new golden era of automation. Below is an examination of some of the technology that is changing manufacturing and an examination of how linking these improvements in technology together can further advance the automation of business practices. Many larger manufacturers have been developing AI (Artificial Intelligence) systems that aid robot learning, monitor all parts of the manufacturing process to detect inefficiencies...
We’ve all seen the movies; the year is 2050 and sophisticated robots have gained a mind of their own, taking over the world in a blaze of fire and panic. Whilst the prospect of artificial intelligence is a scary thought in the minds of those who aren’t well versed in current technological trends, the reality is a little less dramatic. However, this is not to say that it’s dull. In fact, AI is perhaps one of the most exciting movements of the 21st century and we’re only just getting started. Artificial Intelligence Well, in simple terms, AI is the ability of a machine or computer program to learn, specifically machines that are able to “think” and act like humans in an intelligent and measured way. With this definition in mind, it is understandable that AI is often still placed in the 21st-century bracket of futurism. However, upon closer inspection, the technology has already been established and is embedded into computerized systems of all kinds. AI is beginning to manifest itself in...
Artificial intelligence (AI) is generating exciting headlines lately. With stories covering seemingly infinite capabilities, from creating expensive art, to keeping the United States of America ahead in the international race to develop cutting-edge weaponry, to helping our homes take care of us, AI can be perceived as having suddenly embedded itself in virtually every aspect of our modern lives. While it is true that AI is a powerful technology with a broad range of business applications, AI is also a young technology still in the earliest stages of development. Due to its potential to achieve intelligence beyond that of humans, it warrants a thoughtful approach to remain beneficial and safe. Image: Digital Wellbeing AI can seem like a nebulous concept to the average person, and separating fact from fiction can be a challenge. The Future of Life Institute (FLI) , a multidisciplinary group of individuals whose mission is “to catalyze and support research and initiatives for...
There is a much-hyped debate between two of the world’s most notable tech entrepreneurs, centered on the risks inherent in the rapid development of Artificial Intelligence (AI). This highly publicized row involves the dueling perspectives of Mark Zuckerberg, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Facebook, and Elon Musk, most notably co-founder and Chief Executive Officer at Tesla and Space Exploration Technologies (also known as SpaceX). Mr. Zuckerberg is optimistic and eager to advance AI as Facebook chases its goal of building a global community, while Mr. Musk is concerned and cautionary about AI’s potential threats to humanity if its growth is unchecked, its power too centralized. Their arguments are compelling and important to understand, as is the nature of AI technology itself. Though the term “AI” is universally known, it is not widely understood by the general public. This could be because AI technology is in its infancy, and much of what the average person knows about AI...
A new paradigm in manufacturing is steadily growing thanks to partnerships among academics, industry leaders, and government entities. In laboratories across the globe, breakthroughs in the engineering of biomaterials are giving glimpses into the future of regenerative medicine, which is a means of treating disease and saving lives that harnesses the power of the body’s ability to heal itself and marries it to cutting-edge technology. As the healthcare and manufacturing industries combine their powers to address a mounting global health crisis, the line between science fiction and science fact is blurred for the benefit of everyone. It wasn’t long ago that tissue and organ transplantations were considered medical breakthroughs. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the first transplant of skin occurred in 1869 and the first transplant of a solid organ – a kidney – took place in 1954. In the ensuing decades, the demand for replacement body parts increased...
This article will go over the important points about choosing a SCADA system and evaluate one of the more cost effective solutions out there, Inductive Automation’s Ignition. The customer usually doesn’t mind paying a little more for a system that delivers more performance, has more features, or is more flexible than the competition. Also, the system has a whole has to be taken into account. For example, a SCADA software package could be relatively low in cost but the operating system that the server has to run on may be expensive. Additionally, the database software license may tip the scale too far. Sometimes the SCADA system requires multiple servers that run in tandem multiplying the other “auxiliary” costs across the install, and a lot of times this cost is not discussed or disclosed up-front. The user needs to be a little tech savvy to think of the right questions to ask: how many physical servers, operating system licenses, or how much are client licenses? A lot of times the...
In the midst of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, known colloquially as Industry 4.0, the World Economic Forum (WEF) has released a report titled The Future of Jobs Report 2018 , which forecasts how global employment will be impacted by emerging technologies. Optimistic in its findings, the WEF expects a net positive for job growth as long as businesses, employees, and governments are proactive and agile in their efforts to align human talent with an evolving job market. Rather than being wholly replaced by robots, humans have an opportunity to merge their talents with available technologies for the purpose of enhancing bottom lines, but it is up to businesses and governments to create an environment conducive to sustainable growth. Based in Switzerland, the World Economic Forum (WEF) was founded in 1971 and is a non-political membership organization comprised of the world’s top public and private companies. The WEF focuses its activities on understanding the strategic challenges of:...
Over recent years, there has been an awful lot of hype over the Internet of Things (IoT). We’re told it will transform our lives, bring about the fourth industrial revolution and possibly even improve our work lives and living standards. Less is said about how this will be achieved, or even what the IoT actually is, and why it will benefit our lives. In an age when technology is moving in leaps and bounds, it is important to stay informed about the changes happening to our world. Here we sift the fact from the fiction in order to understand how business can expect to change as the IoT ushers in a new era for us all. In the most basic terms, the IoT is a network of products, both for commercial and consumer use, which are connected to each other and various services or businesses through the internet. These items have chips with sensors inserted into them which are programmed to record and monitor various functions and use. This information is then communicated within a closed network...
Add-on instructions are generally a small, tested, pocket of code that the user wants to reuse multiple times in program(s). This tutorial will go into best practices of add-on instructions, how the add-on instructions work, and it will go through creating a custom add-on instruction. There are some best practices for add-on instructions, which are listed below. Testing: Add-on instructions cannot be changed online so make sure whatever instruction the program is using is tested and will work in a production environment. Again, add-on instructions cannot be changed online. Single Level: It is good practice to write only a single level of add-on instructions, meaning that you should not have add-on instructions within add-on instructions, even though it is possible. Naming: It is good practice to name add-on instructions with a consistent prefix. For example, “ao\_IO\_DigitalOutput” would be an add-on instruction for a digital output. When add-on instructions have a consistent prefix...
There are a few different methods of programming for a Control Logix processor, listed here in the order of most common to least common: Ladder Logic (Most common, Preferred) Function Block Diagram Sequential Function Charts Structured Text In this tutorial, I will go over the different methods and describe how they work. Hopefully, the differences between programming methods will be clear. Each method has its own instruction set. Some are very similar between methods but some instructions are only available in one method versus the other. For example, the PIDE instruction, which is called “Enhanced PID” is only available inside the function block diagram method. In a Control Logix PLC, combinations CAN be used in conjunction with each other. The different routines can access the same tags regardless of method, meaning that a function block diagram can access the same tags as a ladder routine. It is good practice to use one method of programming, but if a different instruction is only...
A PLC or Programmable Logic Controller is an electronic or computer device used for industrial control systems. PLCs run a program that manages inputs and logically turns outputs on/off to obtain the desired control. This article will cover the general structure of a PLC program. PLC programming An instruction or job order is formed by two main parts: operation and function. The function is the complement of the operation and is divided into symbol and parameter. The operation determines the CPU’s job or the kind of instruction that it must execute, and the function determines the address. The address, in turn, indicates where the CPU should execute the instruction of elements such as counters, timers, I/O, and internal marks. Basic examples of instructions are: LD: (4C) Loads the line LDN: (42) Negation of the operation LD AND: (41) AND logic ANDN: (44) Negation of the operation AND OR: (4F) OR logic To write a program, other kinds of instructions called service instructions are...
Though the term “automation” was coined in the automotive manufacturing industry back in the 1940’s, it has become applicable to nearly every sector of the global business economy. Its definition is too-often misconstrued as the replacement of human workers with machines, though in actuality automation refers to the integration of machines into a self-governing system. As automation becomes more prevalent, human workers are challenged to assimilate their robot counterparts and expand their skillsets into realms beyond what has ever been required in their chosen professions. At the same time, businesses across the global manufacturing sector must thoughtfully adopt automation in a manner which creates maximum value for their organizations. Jacquard Loom – Image credit: Northampton Silk Project According to Mikell P. Groover , author of “Automation, Production Systems, and Computer-Integrated Manufacturing” , automation grew from mechanization, which is the replacement of human or...
In an increasingly connected world, consumers, businesses, and governments are presented with unprecedented access to data. What they do with that data depends on the questions they wish to ask and the technological capabilities available to produce answers. As the ability to generate insights from data evolves at an increasingly rapid pace, both technology and humans will grow smarter and more empowered. For any study, confidence in the outcomes and conclusions is directly tied to the size and quality of the dataset. Thanks to increasing worldwide digitization and Internet-connectedness, nearly every person on the planet creates mountains of data ripe for study. Entities on the receiving end of these large swaths of data find themselves in possession of a rich, albeit unwieldy, source of market insights. The definition of this “Big Data” evolves as the digital landscape transforms. Think of it not as a thing, but as a concept. In that context, Big Data encompasses all of the...
Deloitte , a private UK company made up of a collection of international firms, has released the results of their 2017 Global Robotics Survey , for which they surveyed 400 professionals representing a panorama of industries across the globe. The aim of this third annual call for responses was to gather information about the growing trend of implementing Robotic Process Automation (RPA). Their findings are predictive of a fast approaching, permanent change in the world’s business landscape, as corporations continue to invest in RPA and work through the struggles of scale. RPA technology Robotic Process Automation (RPA) is a type of technology that is becoming rapidly prevalent in global industries. This type of technology is designed to free human workers from repetitive tasks. Though the term is often used interchangeably with words like “robotics”, “robots” or “bots”, it specifically refers to software robots, not those that perform physical tasks. RPA technology uses business logic...
