Automation, Robotics and Other Advanced Manufacturing Technologies

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Let us define first these words: automation, mechanization and robotics

Automation
- the act of implementing the control of equipment with advanced technology; usually
involving electronic hardware; "automation replaces human workers by machines"
- the condition of being automatically operated or controlled; "automation increases
productivity"

Robotics
- The branch of technology that deals with the design, construction, operation, and
application of robots.
- Robotics is the engineering science and technology of robots, and their design,
manufacture, application, and structural disposition. Robotics is related to electronics,
mechanics, and software.

Mechanization or mechanization (BE) is providing human operators with machinery that assist
them with the muscular requirements of work. It can also refer to the use of machines to replace
automatic labor or animals. A step beyond mechanization is automation.

Industrial robots already at work

The number of robots in the world today is approaching 1,000,000, with almost half that number
in Japan and just 15% in the US. A couple of decades ago, 90% of robots were used in car
manufacturing, typically on assembly lines doing a variety of repetitive tasks. Today only 50%
are in automobile plants, with the other half spread out among other factories, laboratories,
warehouses, energy plants, hospitals, and many other industries. Robots are used for
assembling products, handling dangerous materials, spray-painting, cutting and polishing,
inspection of products. The number of robots used in tasks as diverse as cleaning sewers,
detecting bombs and performing intricate surgery is increasing steadily, and will continue to grow
in coming years.

Robot Intelligence
Even with primitive intelligence, robots have demonstrated ability to generate good gains in
factory productivity, efficiency and quality. Beyond that, some of the "smartest" robots are not in
manufacturing; they are used as space explorers, remotely operated surgeons and even pets –
like Sony's AIBO mechanical dog. In some ways, some of these other applications show what
might be possible on production floors if manufacturers realize that industrial robots don't have to
be bolted to the floor, or constrained by the limitations of yesterday's machinery concepts. With
the rapidly increasing power of the microprocessor and artificial intelligence techniques, robots
have dramatically increased their potential as flexible automation tools. The new surge of
robotics is in applications demanding advanced intelligence. Robotic technology is converging
with a wide variety of complementary technologies – machine vision, force sensing (touch),
speech recognition and advanced mechanics. This results in exciting new levels of functionality
for jobs that were never before considered practical for robots.

Advanced Manufacturing Technology (AMT) is a modern method of production incorporating

highly automated and sophisticated computerized design and operational systems. AMT aims at
manufacturing high quality products at low cost within the shortest delivery time.

Manufacturing is the strength of any industrialized nation. Although large segments of the
population may be employed in service industries, it is manufacturing that produces the wealth of
a nation.

Source:
Robotics technology trends
By : Jim Pinto,
San Diego, CA. USA

sabar.hasan@dnsc.edu.ph
Narrative/ Things I learned
From the discussion of the reporters, I realized the difference between automation and
mechanisation.
Mechanisation involves human assistance for continuous operation. But in case of automation,
you don't need any operator. Some times material loading and unloading is done manually but
still its automation. Mechanism involves use of cam, springs, contours, gears as actuating
devices and prime mover. In automation, we have smart controllers which activate the prime
mover as and when required. One major significance of advanced manufacturing technologies is:
Increased industrial productivity to reduce importation of goods, equipment, raw materials and
services that translates to increase in Gross Domestic Product (GDP), Gross National Income
per capita (GNI), and reduction in the fleeing of foreign exchange.