Automation refers to the development of systems to replace or assist people to complete specific tasks in human production, life and management activities, reduce and reduce human physical and mental labor, and improve work efficiency, efficiency and effect. Automation technology is widely used in industry, agriculture, military, scientific research, transportation, commerce, medical treatment, service and family. The adoption of automation technology can not only liberate people from heavy physical labor, some mental labor and bad and dangerous working environment, but also expand human organ functions, greatly improve labor productivity and enhance human ability to understand and transform the world. Therefore, automation is an important condition and significant symbol of the modernization of industry, agriculture, national defense and science and technology.

Introduction to automation concept

The concept of automation is a dynamic development process. In the past, people's understanding of automation or the functional goal of automation was to replace human operation with mechanical action to automatically complete specific tasks. This is essentially the view that automation replaces human manual labor. Later, with the development of electronic and information technology, especially with the emergence and wide application of computers, the concept of automation has been extended to use machines (including computers) not only to replace human physical labor, but also to replace or assist mental labor, so as to automatically complete specific jobs.

The broad connotation of automation includes at least the following points: in terms of form, manufacturing automation has three meanings: replacing human physical labor, replacing or assisting human mental labor, and the coordination, management, control and optimization of man-machine and the whole system in manufacturing system. In terms of function, automation instead of human physical or mental labor is only a part of the goal system of automation function. The functional objectives of automation are multifaceted and have formed an organic system. In terms of scope, manufacturing automation involves not only specific manufacturing processes, but all processes in the product life cycle.