International Series of Monographs in Automation and Automatic Control, Volume 7: Fundamentals of Automation and Remote Control describes the complex systems of automatic control and telecontrol. This text is a translation from the second Russian edition. This book contains descriptive material on the fundamentals of automation and remote control, with attention to electrical components and systems. Part I deals with the basic components of automation and remote control, such as functions and general characteristics, and electromechanical, ferromagnetic, and electronic and radioactive components. The construction of automation systems that use radioactive isotopes is given as an example where the penetrating power of the radioactive radiation can measure the thickness of an object. Part II discusses automation systems and describes the principles of stability analysis that are needed in the dynamics of automatic regulation and control, follower, and measuring systems. A schematic diagram of an automatic speed regulator is analyzed in detail as an example. Part III is a description of the many remote control systems that are used, for example, in signaling systems, in telemetry systems, and in command-link systems. The importance of communication channels to remote control systems is also pointed out. Long-range signaling and telecontrol, which uses selection methods to assign the correct signals, are explained. A diagram of a telecontrol unit with time separation of signals is illustrated, and the protection of the unit from employing distorted signals is explained. Mechanical engineers, technicians, and students with serious interest in automatic control and telecontrol will find this book valuable.

Increasingly, robots are being used in environments inhospitable to humans such as the deep ocean, inside nuclear reactors, and in deep space. Such robots are controlled by remote links to human operators who may be close by or thousands of miles away. The techniques used to control these robots is the subject of this book. The author begins with a basic introduction to robot control and then considers the important problems to be overcome: delays or noisy control lines, feedback and response information, and predictive displays. Readers are assumed to have a basic understanding of robotics though this may be their first exposure to the subject of telerobotics. Professional engineers and roboticists will find this an invaluable introduction to this subject.

Implementing the automation of electric distribution networks, from simple remote control to the application of software-based decision tools, requires many considerations, such as assessing costs, selecting the control infrastructure type and automation level, deciding on the ambition level, and justifying the solution through a business case. Control and Automation of Electric Power Distribution Systems addresses all of these issues to aid you in resolving automation problems and improving the management of your distribution network. Bringing together automation concepts as they apply to utility distribution systems, this volume presents the theoretical and practical details of a control and automation solution for the entire distribution system of substations and feeders. The fundamentals of this solution include depth of control, boundaries of control responsibility, stages of automation, automation intensity levels, and automated device preparedness. To meet specific performance goals, the authors discuss distribution planning, performance calculations, and protection to facilitate the selection of the primary device, associated secondary control, and fault indicators. The book also provides two case studies that illustrate the business case for distribution automation (DA) and methods for calculating benefits, including the assessment of crew time savings. As utilities strive for better economies, DA, along with other tools described in this volume, help to achieve improved management of the distribution network. Using Control and Automation of Electric Power Distribution Systems, you can embark on the automation solution best suited for your needs.

A famous French writer, Anatole France, liked to say, "The future is a convenient place to position our dreams" (1927). Indeed, this remark gains full meaning when one considers the history of what we call today "Robotics." For more than 3000 years, mankind has dreamt ofthe possibility of arti ficial machines that would have all the advantages of human slaves without any of their drawbacks. With the developments in technology since the end of World War II, mainly with the explosive progress of computers, it was thought we might at last succeed in transforming this everlasting dream into reality. In the mind of scientists of the 1950's, to make such intelligent and autonomous machines before the year 2000 seemed a small challenge: it was obvious, thanks to computers and Artificial Intelligence. But, in spite of progress in some directions, we must admit that the dream remains a dream and that the basic problems denying us a successful issue are not solved. In fact, if we except industrial robots, only calling for classical automata theory, the main advanced result concerning autonomous and intelligent machines is related to some understanding of reasons why we have failed during the past years.

This book provides an extended overview and fundamental knowledge in industrial automation, while building the necessary knowledge level for further specialization in advanced concepts of industrial automation. It covers a number of central concepts of industrial automation, such as basic automation elements, hardware components for automation and process control, the latch principle, industrial automation synthesis, logical design for automation, electropneumatic automation, industrial networks, basic programming in PLC, and PID in the industry.

The interdisciplinary research and development work carried out in the last ten years which is presented in this book aimed at replacing the conventional airport control tower by a new “remote tower operation” work environment (RTO) which should enhance work efficiency and safety and reduce costs. This revolutionary human–system interface allows for remote aerodrome traffic control without a physical tower building and enables the establishment of remote airport traffic control centers (RTC) of which each may serve several airports from a central location.