Republic of Iraq

Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research

Southern Technical University
Thi-QarTechnical College
Electromechanical Systems Engineering Department

Automation &Control

Lecture 2
 The Basic Components of Automation System
Automation System consists of numerous components , may also communicate with one
another to exchange information necessary for overall coordination and optimized
operation of the required process or plant systems ....etc. Automation systems usually
consists of several of mechanisms ,elements , devices and programs which can perform a
variety of functions related to Instrumentation, Control, Supervision and Operations
Management related to the different automatic operations.

The basic components which used to design and building the automation system
for required processes are:

1. Fixed Components of Automation System (hardware) What is hardware?

Hardware is what can touch in the actual form. In automation systems (hardware) is
a general term for various physical components to make the system can be working
and they are the most visible parts , which include the equipment’s such as
computers, scanners , sensors, actuators ...etc, i.e the equipment’s which it use to
receive signals, commands, or data from the control units and transform it and
present it to the user as an output i.e as an accomplishment of the work to be
accomplished The fixed (hardware) components in automation, as primarily
following:

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1.1. Measurement systems.
The measurement is an important subsystem generally in a mechatronics system and in
particular in robot and automation application. Its main function is to collect the
information on system status and the outer perimeter and sent it to unit control in the
system i.e. give the system user a numerical value describing exactly the general
situation of the variable being measurement.

 Functional Elements of Measurement System

A measurement system can be considered to consist of several elements, each of which is
used to carry out a particular function. The measurement system comprises of sensors,
transducers and signal processing. The work of this system depends heavily on
sensors.

I .Sensor is the Element of the system which is effectively in contact with the process for
which a variable is being measured and gives an output which depends in some way on
the value of the variable.

Sensor: It’s defined as an element which can measure continuous and discrete process
variables and produces signal relating to the quantity being measured and the output is
usually an ‘electrical quantity.

Sensors are used to carry out the process monitoring activities, transfer information
to and from the system and to alarm the operators about the failure of any of the sub
units in system and this help to achieve high product quality.

Note: the sensor represents the link between the automated system and the real world.

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II-Transducer: It’s defined as a device that can converts the signal of energy from one
form to another.

III-Signal processing: It’s defined as the technology enabling to generation, analysis,

synthesis, and modification of signals to extract some useful information from it

1.2. Analysis Systems.

In this part of the automation system the information obtained from the sensors or
measurement system are recorded and analyzed, and through these information’s, the
system makes the decision for the next stage.
The function and components of this system are generally too complicated .The basic
components of this system are: Computers, Counters, Timers, and Bar code readers .
I-Computers: The computers are the primary means to implement process control and
communication between the operator with the system .The computers are extremely
versatile and its can be use many ways to programming the data.

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II. Counters: used in automation systems to count the number of items which entered,
exited, or passed through the system.

The counters which used in the automation systems that may be electronic, mechanical,
electrical or electromechanical. The most prominent types of counters are:

1- Input counter
This type of counter to count the numbers of items or elements which enters to
the system.

2. Output counter
This type of counter to count the numbers of items or elements which come out of the
system.

3. Preset Control Counter

In this type of counter, the counter is preset by the number of items that must enter or exit
the system. The input or output process stops after completing of the number which pre-
defined elements.

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III.Timer :is a device used in automation systems that outputs a signal at a preset time
and allow the automation system to activate or stopped different functions at a pre-set
time and for helps to alert operators or the users to the time of start and end of
the required operation , whether for all operation or to the part of this operation ,
according to what is required.

The timer devices are a great way to cut energy usage and costs, by specifying
which appliances need to be operating or stopped at any given time

Use timer devices, may be used to schedule another command:

 After the lapse of a specified time

 At a specified time
 Repeatedly at specified intervals

IV-Barcodes and Bar code Readers:

Barcodes: are black lines interspersed with while white spaces or codes consisting
of black modules arranged in a square pattern, often referred to as UPC (universal product
codes) and the QR (Quick Response), put on product.Barcodes can be provide a simple,
direct, and cost effective way for tracking information (data) about objects and
this reduce time of work , manual intervention and boost productivity.

Bar code reader: is an electronic device that can read and output printed barcodes to a
computer or controller system. . Figure below, shown a form of the Barcodes and Bar
code Readers.

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1.4. Actuator Systems.
Actuator is a component of automation system that is responsible providing the
necessary energy for moving the mechanism or system through accepting a control
command (mostly in the form of an electrical signal) and can produce a change in the
physical mode by converting actuator energy, often electrical, air, or hydraulic....etc ,
into motion or force i.e. converts the controlling signal into the required form of motions.

The selection of the engine is dependent on the type of required operation. Actuators can
create a linear motion, rotary motion or oscillatory motion. Some actuators work in the
form of only is on and off but the other actuators work in the form of respond
proportionally with the signal they receive from a controller.

Types of Actuators:
Most commonly employed methods to move or control actuators are:

I. Electrical Actuators: this devices power the system by convert’s the electrical energy
in to mechanical torque to generating movement.
A. Electric motors:
- DC motors
- AC motors
- Stepper motors
- Servo motors

B. Common electrical systems used as actuator for control:

- Switching devices: on or off devices, relays, diodes, transistors.
- Solenoid.
II.Pneumatic (Air): this devices power the system by convert energy formed by
compressed air pressure into either linear or rotary motion.

III.Hydraulic (Liquids -oil): this devices power the system by convert the energy which
formed by the pumping the oil into the hydraulic system into either linear or
rotary motion.

IV.Pneumatic muscle actuators (PMA) is a new kind of actuator has been

development to applications such as safe interaction with humans are also very suitable
during the process of musculoskeletal rehabilitating patients and are often used in making
artificial orthoses. These actuators used as soft, lightweight and compliant actuators have
great potential in applications .The Pneumatic muscle actuators (PMA) consists of
a rubber tube covered in tough plastic netting and its

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behaves in a very similar way to the natural muscle, where it can be reversibly contract,
expand, or rotate within one component due to an external stimulus (such as voltage,
current, pressure or temperature, as shown in figure below.

IV. Electro-pneumatic actuator: Electro-pneumatic actuator, these types of actuators

have more than one type of power source, where they can be powered and command by
both air and electricity. And take the advantages of both the pneumatic actuator and the
electrical actuator.

1.5. Mechanical parts or Mechanical tools.

It is the tool through which the final process is executed

Welding gun for the weld automation

system

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 Punching tool for the punch automation system

Cutting tool for the cut automation system

2. Flexible Components of Automation System (software) What is software?

Software is a type of computer program that is designed to run the hardware

of the systems and application of programs. , the software is the interface between the
hardware and user applications.

The objective of the software in automation systems is to create and

managements systems can conducting operations and processes repeatable and the
processes of replace the equipment’s or other operations , where this lead to carry out the
tasks with little to no human intervention.

Q) Can you have an integrated automation system without software or

without hardware?
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