Information Control Problems In Manufacturing Technology 1982

Information Control Problems in Manufacturing Technology 1982 documents the proceedings of the 4th IFAC/IFIP Symposium held in Maryland, USA, on 26-28 October 1982. The volume contains 27 papers divided into six sections. The papers in Section 1 cover the various US government programs sponsoring manufacturing-related research. This support ranges from basic process physics research to general questions of artificial intelligence in the manufacturing environment. At the heart of any manufacturing operation are the unit processes. Proper control of these processes is vital to achieving the autonomy that will eventually lead to automated manufacturing systems. Section 2 addresses these issues in terms of the general control problem involved and in the solution of specific processing problems. Section 3 presents examples of both on and off-line techniques that use novel methods of data acquisition and signal processing. Section 4 focuses on the role of industrial robots in advanced manufacturing systems. It addresses fundamental questions of manipulator design and control, and modelling of robot work environment. The ability to integrate processes and robots into an efficient manufacturing system is truly the challenge of the future. Section 5 deals with a wide range of such problems, including planning, scheduling, inventory, and decision systems. Section 6 presents specific examples of fully automated manufacturing and assembly systems.

The Symposium presented and discussed the latest research on new theories and advanced applications of automatic systems, which are developed for manufacturing technology or are applicable to advanced manufacturing systems. The topics included computer integrated manufacturing, simulation and the increasingly important areas of artificial intelligence and expert systems, and applied them to the broad spectrum of problems that the modern manufacturing engineer is likely to encounter in the design and application of increasingly complex automatic systems.

The papers within this volume reflect the multidisciplinary approach taken by the workshop to the development and improvement of existing production control theories and practices as applied to the process industry. Subjects covered include production planning, quality control and assurance, operational control and maintenance strategy. The development of this area is seen by those at the workshop as only being achieved by various groups working together rather than in isolation, so that the overall aim of production control is not lost in too much detail. This volume will provide the reader with essential information on new initiatives in the process industry with regard to production control.

Information Processing is a key area of research and development and the symposium presented state-of-the-art reports on some of the areas which are of relevance in automatic control: fault diagnosis and system reliability. Papers also covered the role of expert systems and other knowledge based systems, which are needed, to cope with the vast quantities of data generated by large scale systems. This volume should be considered essential reading for anyone involved in this rapidly developing area.

Analysis, Design, & Evaluation of Man-Machine Systems presents an examination of the construction and application of a combined network and production systems model. It discusses the computer simulation and experimental results of a fuzzy model of driver behavior. It addresses the ergonomic aspects of working places in control rooms. Some of the topics covered in the book are the control and supervision of the eurelios solar power plant; computer aided control station with coloured display for production control; dynamic and static models for nuclear reactor operators; ironies of automation; and theory and validation of model of the human observer and decision maker. The operation simulation for the evaluation and improvement of a medical information system are fully covered. An in-depth account of an online information retrieval through natural language is provided. The control of input variables by head movements of handicapped persons is completely presented. A chapter is devoted to a graphical hardware description language for logic simulation programs. Another section focuses on the symbiotic, knowledge-based computer support systems. The book can provide useful information to computer programmers, engineers, students, and researchers.

Design of Work in Automated Manufacturing Systems focuses on the need to improve the working conditions in the workplace while at same time putting emphasis on the use of technologies in various industries. The book takes into account how automation has altered the operations of small- and medium-sized firms. The text then presents a comparison of the use of computer-controlled applications in different countries and industries, as well as how these applications have influenced the working conditions of workers as well as the division of work in the workplace. The changes that manufacturing industries have undergone and the adjustments that were made in adopting the use of automated manufacturing systems are also highlighted. Also noted are the changes that computer-aided production systems have done on engineering, including the observation that workers can effectively work in an environment that is partially controlled by computer-controlled applications. However, the text also notes that organizational problems have evolved in firms that have adopted computer-controlled applications. The book can be a source of information for social scientists and those involved in developing computer-controlled applications in organizations.

Computer Aided Design of Multivariable Technological Systems covers the proceedings of the Second International Federation of Automatic Control (IFAC). The book reviews papers that discuss topics about the use of Computer Aided Design (CAD) in designing multivariable system, such as theoretical issues, applications, and implementations. The book tackles several topics relevant to the use of CAD in designing multivariable systems. Topics include quasi-classical approach to multivariable feedback system designs; fuzzy control for multivariable systems; root loci with multiple gain parameters; multivariable frequency domain stability criteria; and computational algorithms for pole assignment in linear multivariable systems. The text will be of great use to professionals whose work involves designing and implementing multivariable systems.

Systems Approach to Appropriate Technology Transfer is a collection of selected papers presented at the International Federation of Automatic Control (IFAC) Symposium, held in Vienna, Austria. The objective of the symposium is to analyze the transfer process of technologies by using the systems approach and gather insights that can be used for the enhancement of future transfer programs. The book is a rich presentation of articles and research papers from scientists and engineers from all over the world, and is composed of introductory, technical discussion, and round table discussion papers. The introductory papers give insights to the concepts of technology transfer, systems approach, and use of appropriate technologies. The technical discussions touch on technology transfer in selected fields, energy technologies, flexible manufacturing systems, information and communication, social and educational aspects, and case studies. The four round table discussions focus on the application of technologies to support small-scale enterprises and users’ participation; appropriate technology transfer on microelectronics; policies and strategies for appropriate technology transfer; and the impact of informatics on technology transfer. The text will appeal to computer scientists, engineers, policymakers, and students of information technology.