Trends and Scope of PLC
When we hear of about industrial processes becoming automated, we often wonder- What does automation actually do? What is process automation? And how far can industrial processes be automated. In what follows, we understand the scope and purpose, the future of industry automation, while also deep delve into the Programmable Logic Controllers, as core components for industry automation. Industrial Automation refers to the use of automatic equipment in the production processes or system of manufacturing. This includes, PLCs, robotic solutions, sensors, Artificial intelligence, depending on the purpose and extent of automation. Programmable Logic Controller-PLCs are crucial components of industrial processes that have the ability to monitor and control the manufacturing processes. The term that was first introduced in the early 1970s in industrial automation technology, is today a widespread component in industrial process automation.
Today, any industry process can be automated. Besides saving time, labor and money, it eliminates human error and manual processes. PLC, being a crucial component of industrial process used to control machinery and industrial processes. It operates on instructions stored on memory module that can include program instructions and data. PLCs may be described as special purpose computer, that essentially is like a tiny brain for industrial automatics and machines, used widely in control actuators, motors, valves, sequence machines and other devices used in industry processes.