Supplies the most essential concepts and methods necessary to capitalize on the innovations of industrial automation, including mathematical fundamentals, ergonometrics, industrial robotics, government safety regulations, and economic analyses.

This handbook incorporates new developments in automation. It also presents a widespread and well-structured conglomeration of new emerging application areas, such as medical systems and health, transportation, security and maintenance, service, construction and retail as well as production or logistics. The handbook is not only an ideal resource for automation experts but also for people new to this expanding field.

The authors and editors of this Handbook have attempted to fill a serious gap in the professional literature on industrial automation. Much past attention has been directed to the general concepts and philosophy of automation as a way to convince owners and managers of manufacturing facilities that automation is indeed one of the few avenues available to increase productivity and improve competitive position. Seventy-three contributors share their knowledge in this Handbook. Less attention has been given to the "What" and "How" of automation. To the extent feasible and practical within the confines of the pages allowed, this Handbook concentrates on the implementation of automation. Once the "Go" signal has been given by management, concrete details-not broad definitions and philosophical discussions-are required. To be found in this distinctly different book in the field are detailed parameters for designing and specifying equipment, the options available with an evaluation of their relative advantages and limitations, and insights for engineers and production managers on the operation and capabilities of present-generation automation system components, subsystems, and total systems. In a number of instances, the logical extension of current technology into the future is given. A total of 445 diagrams and photos and 57 tables augments detailed discussions. In addition to its use as a ready reference for technical and management personnel, the book has wide potential for training and group discussions at the college and university level and for special education programs as may be provided by consultants or by "in-house" training personnel.

This book distils into a single coherent handbook all the essentials of process automation at a depth sufficient for most practical purposes. The handbook focuses on the knowledge needed to cope with the vast majority of process control and automation situations. In doing so, a number of sensible balances have been carefully struck between breadth and depth, theory and practice, classical and modern, technology and technique, information and understanding. A thorough grounding is provided for every topic. No other book covers the gap between the theory and practice of control systems so comprehensively and at a level suitable for practicing engineers.

Comprehensive, detailed, and organized for speedy reference—everything you need to know about modern manufacturing technology… From concurrent engineering to fixture design for machining systems, from robotics and artificial intelligence to facility layout planning and automated CAD-based inspection, this handbook provides all the information you need to design, plan, and implement a modern, efficient manufacturing system tailored to your company’s special needs and requirements. Handbook of Design, Manufacturing and Automation does more than simply present the characteristics and specifications of each technology—much more. Each technology is discussed both in terms of its own capabilities and in terms of its compatibility with other technologies, and the trade-offs involved in choosing one option over another are explored at length. An entire section is devoted to the business aspects of converting to the new technologies, including acquisition of automation, managing advanced manufacturing technology, and issues of cost and financing. The focus is on incorporating these technologies into a cohesive whole—an efficient, cost-effective manufacturing system. Other important topics include: Design for automated manufacturing Nontraditional manufacturing processes Machine tool programming techniques and trends Precision engineering and micromanufacturing Computer-integrated product planning and control Image processing for manufacturing And much more

Designed to provide the most essential concepts and methods necessary to capitalize on the innovations of industrial automation, this text includes sections on: mathematical fundamentals; ergonomics; industrial robotics; government safety regulations; and economic analyses.

As the capability and utility of robots has increased dramatically with new technology, robotic systems can perform tasks that are physically dangerous for humans, repetitive in nature, or require increased accuracy, precision, and sterile conditions to radically minimize human error. The Robotics and Automation Handbook addresses the major aspects of designing, fabricating, and enabling robotic systems and their various applications. It presents kinetic and dynamic methods for analyzing robotic systems, considering factors such as force and torque. From these analyses, the book develops several controls approaches, including servo actuation, hybrid control, and trajectory planning. Design aspects include determining specifications for a robot, determining its configuration, and utilizing sensors and actuators. The featured applications focus on how the specific difficulties are overcome in the development of the robotic system. With the ability to increase human safety and precision in applications ranging from handling hazardous materials and exploring extreme environments to manufacturing and medicine, the uses for robots are growing steadily. The Robotics and Automation Handbook provides a solid foundation for engineers and scientists interested in designing, fabricating, or utilizing robotic systems.