Electronic Design Systems
Computer Automation Page

Welcome to the Electronic Design Systems Computer Automation Page. Computers have permeated our everyday lives. In fact we as a civilization would be hard pressed to live without them. No where is this more evident than the modern factory. While the "Industrial Revolution of the early 1900's gave us factories where machines ran by people were turning out products and goods at seemingly lightening speed. The modern factory relies on the computer. In fact, in many applications a computer has replaced the human in performing, ho hum and redundant tasks. But the human is not extinct - in fact, the computers are programmed, set-up, and maintained by "human being's". Automated robots have streamlined the assembly line, and the anamatronic robots work around the clock without breaks, union meetings, safety meetings, - they "Just Work"...
Automation can be as simple as inserting a timer to turn something on or off at s presribed time. This simple feature allows the operator the flexibility and freedom to attend to other nmachines. It also increases worker productivity. Efficiency comes into play if the employee sets all the timers correctly and in a sequence that provides for efficient operation. This sytem needs the input from the operator to modify and change the sequence or duration of events based upon observed "conditions" and changes.

The addition of a simple logic controller (or series of logic controllers) allows for the insertion of "conditions" into the automation scheme. Such as "pick up Right Fender (When availiable) and place it into position on the right front side of the vehicle chassis (when the chassis is in position). In other words - the robot will not try and pick a fender up if it is coded as a "left fender", and will wait until the fender comes down the assembly line to the correct position to pick it up. This also minimizes the possibility that the fender could be picked up by the wrong edge - because it hasn't arrived at the proper position for pick-up. It also minimizes the possibility that the robot will pick it up and try and place it on a chassis that is not at the correct spot on the assembly line (can't mount a fender on a chassis that is not there - can we?).

Now to make things even more efficient, we add a micro-computer (they call them PLCs) and we have the ability to not only set conditions, we can multi task the machine. When it places the fender on one side of the vehicle being manufactured - it can weld it in place, verify the weld, and then move over to the other side and repeat the task on the other fender. Add sensors into the assembly line and it can speed up/slow down the section to get the parts in place in an efficient manner and sequense. It can also sense when something is not right or out of place and stop everything. But lacks the "Artificial Intelligence" to analyze and correct conditions. Computers are not smarter that humans, they are more accurate, repeditive, and untiring.

If you add "Artificial Intellegence" and "Basic Reasoning" you have a machine that can sense that somebody has walked into the work area. It can asses whether or not the individual is in a dangerous position or if they are in the way of the process. Either way, it can stpo the process, and then verbally alert the intruder that they are "not supposed to be there." The machine can then request that they "leave the area" and verify that the "intruder has actually left" before resuming work. In a "true Artificial Environment" the machine would be able to recognize age, gender, and possibly facial recognition. The machine could even be outfitted to detect Thermal signatures, and even distinguish between bugs, cats, dogs, elephants, giraffes, etc.

At Microsoft Headquarters, automatronic messengers deliver and pick up mail, packages and articles then deliver them to their destinations within the company headquarters. They even take items to shipping and receiving, process them and put them in proper bins for pick-up by Fed-Ex, or UPS, or USPS, and even other couriers, trucking companies, etc. "But", people over see everything. But Hey - Taint' Life Wonderful when you have all that money to spend???"