Editing Automation (section)

==Recent and emerging applications==
{{Main|Emerging technologies}}

===CAD AI===
Artificially intelligent [[computer-aided design]] (CAD) can use text-to-3D, image-to-3D, and video-to-3D to automate in [[3D modeling]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.eweek.com/artificial-intelligence/best-ai-3d-generators/|title=10 Best Artificial Intelligence (AI) 3D Generators|first=Aminu|last=Abdullahi|date=November 17, 2023|website=eWEEK}}</ref>  AI [[Library (computing)#CAD library|CAD libraries]] could also be developed using [[Linked data|linked]] [[open data]] of [[schematic|schematics]]  and [[diagram]]s.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://insights.globalspec.com/article/21167/slash-cad-model-build-times-with-new-ai-driven-part-creation-methodology|title=Slash CAD model build times with new AI-driven part creation methodology &#124; GlobalSpec}}</ref>  Ai CAD [[Virtual assistant|assistants]] are used as tools to help streamline workflow.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.scan2cad.com/blog/cad/ai-cad/|title=The Role of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the CAD Industry|date=March 22, 2023}}</ref>

=== Automated power production ===
Technologies like [[solar panel]]s, [[Wind farm|wind turbines]], and other [[renewable energy]] sources—together with [[smart grid]]s, [[Distributed generation|micro-grids]], [[battery storage]]—can automate power production.

=== Agricultural production ===
{{Main|Agriculture}}
Many agricultural operations are automated with [[Agricultural machinery|machinery and equipment]] to improve their diagnosis, decision-making and/or performing. Agricultural automation can relieve the drudgery of agricultural work, improve the timeliness and precision of agricultural operations, raise productivity and resource-use efficiency, build resilience, and improve food quality and safety.<ref name=":1">{{Cite book |title=In Brief to The State of Food and Agriculture 2022. Leveraging automation in agriculture for transforming agrifood systems |publisher=Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations |location=Rome | year=2022 |language=en |doi=10.4060/cc2459en |doi-access=free |isbn=978-92-5-137005-6}}</ref> Increased productivity can free up labour, allowing agricultural households to spend more time elsewhere.<ref name=":2">{{Cite book |title=The State of Food and Agriculture 2022.Leveraging agricultural automation for transforming agrifood systems |publisher=Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations |location=Rome | year=2022 |language=en |doi=10.4060/cb9479en |doi-access=free |isbn=978-92-5-136043-9}}</ref>

The technological evolution in agriculture has resulted in progressive shifts to digital equipment and robotics.<ref name=":1" /> Motorized mechanization using engine power automates the performance of agricultural operations such as ploughing and milking.<ref name=":3">{{Cite book |author=Santos Valle, S. |author2=Kienzle, J. |url=https://www.fao.org/documents/card/en/c/cb2186en |title=Agriculture 4.0 – Agricultural robotics and automated equipment for sustainable crop production |publisher=Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations |location=Rome |year=2020 |isbn=}}</ref> With digital automation technologies, it also becomes possible to automate diagnosis and decision-making of agricultural operations.<ref name=":1" /> For example, autonomous crop robots can harvest and seed crops, while drones can gather information to help automate input application.<ref name=":2" /> Precision agriculture often employs such automation technologies<ref name=":2" />

Motorized mechanization has generally increased in recent years.<ref name=":4">{{Cite web |title=FAOSTAT: Discontinued archives and data series: Machinery |url=https://www.fao.org/faostat/en/#data/RM |access-date=1 December 2021 |website=FAO}}</ref> Sub-Saharan Africa is the only region where the adoption of motorized mechanization has stalled over the past decades.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Daum |first1=Thomas |last2=Birner |first2=Regina |date=2020-09-01 |title=Agricultural mechanization in Africa: Myths, realities and an emerging research agenda |journal=Global Food Security |language=en |volume=26 |page=100393 |doi=10.1016/j.gfs.2020.100393 |s2cid=225280050 |issn=2211-9124|doi-access=free |bibcode=2020GlFS...2600393D }}</ref><ref name=":2" />

Automation technologies are increasingly used for managing livestock, though evidence on adoption is lacking. Global automatic milking system sales have increased over recent years,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Global milking robots market size by type, by herd size, by geographic scope and forecast |url=https://www.verifiedmarketresearch.com/product/milking-robots-market/ |access-date=24 July 2022 |website=Verified Market Research}}</ref> but adoption is likely mostly in Northern Europe,<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Rodenburg |first=Jack |date=2017 |title=Robotic milking: Technology, farm design, and effects on work flow |journal=Journal of Dairy Science |volume=100 |issue=9 |pages=7729–7738 |doi=10.3168/jds.2016-11715 |pmid=28711263 |s2cid=11934286 |issn=0022-0302|doi-access=free }}</ref> and likely almost absent in low- and middle-income countries.<ref>{{Cite book |title=Economics of adoption for digital automated technologies in agriculture. Background paper for The State of Food and Agriculture 2022 |publisher=Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations |location=Rome | year=2022 |language=en |doi=10.4060/cc2624en |doi-access=free |isbn=978-92-5-137080-3}}</ref><ref name=":2" /> Automated feeding machines for both cows and poultry also exist, but data and evidence regarding their adoption trends and drivers is likewise scarce.<ref name=":2" /><ref name=":4" />

===Retail===
{{Main|Automated retail}}
Many [[supermarkets]] and even smaller stores are rapidly introducing [[self-checkout]] systems reducing the need for employing checkout workers. In the U.S., the retail industry employs 15.9 million people as of 2017 (around 1 in 9 Americans in the workforce). Globally, an estimated 192 million workers could be affected by automation according to research by [[Eurasia Group]].<ref name=":0">{{cite news|title=The decline of established American retailing threatens jobs|newspaper=The Economist|url=https://www.economist.com/news/briefing/21721900-love-affair-shopping-has-gone-online-decline-established-american-retailing|access-date=28 May 2017}}</ref>
[[File:016 Coca-Cola vending machine at Kyoto Station, Japan - コカコーラ 自動販売機.JPG|thumb|A soft drink [[vending machine]] in Japan, an example of automated retail]] [[Online shopping]] could be considered a form of automated retail as the payment and checkout are through an automated [[online transaction processing]] system, with the share of online retail accounting jumping from 5.1% in 2011 to 8.3% in 2016. {{Citation needed|date=September 2017}} However, two-thirds of books, music, and films are now purchased online. In addition, automation and online shopping could reduce demands for shopping malls, and retail property, which in the United States is currently estimated to account for 31% of all commercial property or around {{Convert | 7 | e9ft2 | e6m2 | abbr=off}}. [[Amazon (company)|Amazon]] has gained much of the growth in recent years for online shopping, accounting for half of the growth in online retail in 2016.<ref name=":0" /> Other forms of automation can also be an integral part of online shopping, for example, the deployment of automated warehouse robotics such as that applied by [[Amazon (company)|Amazon]] using [[Kiva Systems]].

===Food and drink===
{{Main|Automated restaurant}}
[[File:Factory Automation Robotics Palettizing Bread.jpg|thumb|[[KUKA]] [[industrial robot]]s being used at a bakery for food production]]
The food retail industry has started to apply automation to the ordering process; [[McDonald's]] has introduced touch screen ordering and payment systems in many of its restaurants, reducing the need for as many cashier employees.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.itbusiness.ca/blog/mcdonalds-automation-a-sign-of-declining-service-sector-employment/20398|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130919201318/http://www.itbusiness.ca/blog/mcdonalds-automation-a-sign-of-declining-service-sector-employment/20398|archive-date=19 September 2013|title=McDonald's automation a sign of declining service sector employment |work=IT Business|date=19 September 2013}}</ref> [[The University of Texas at Austin]] has introduced fully automated cafe retail locations.<ref>[http://singularityhub.com/2012/05/09/automation-comes-to-the-coffeehouse-with-robotic-baristas/ Automation Comes To The Coffeehouse With Robotic Baristas]. Singularity Hub. Retrieved on 12 July 2013.</ref> Some cafes and restaurants have utilized mobile and tablet "[[Mobile app|apps]]" to make the ordering process more efficient by customers ordering and paying on their device.<ref>[http://www.bighospitality.co.uk/Business/New-Pizza-Express-app-lets-diners-pay-bill-using-iPhone New Pizza Express app lets diners pay bill using iPhone]. Bighospitality.co.uk. Retrieved on 12 July 2013.</ref> Some restaurants have automated food delivery to tables of customers using a [[Conveyor belt sushi|conveyor belt system]]. The use of [[robots]] is sometimes employed to replace [[waiting staff]].<ref>[https://techcrunch.com/2010/03/12/wheelie-toshibas-new-robot-is-cute-autonomous-and-maybe-even-useful-video/ Wheelie: Toshiba's new robot is cute, autonomous and maybe even useful (video)]. TechCrunch (12 March 2010). Retrieved on 12 July 2013.</ref>

===Construction===
{{Main|Automation in construction}}
Automation in construction is the combination of methods, processes, and systems that allow for greater machine autonomy in construction activities. Construction automation may have multiple goals, including but not limited to, reducing [[jobsite]] injuries, decreasing activity completion times, and assisting with [[quality control]] and [[quality assurance]].<ref>{{cite web |title=The impact and opportunities of automation in construction |url=https://www.mckinsey.com/business-functions/operations/our-insights/the-impact-and-opportunities-of-automation-in-construction |website=McKinsey & Company |access-date=13 November 2020}}</ref>

===Mining===
{{main|Automated mining}} Automated mining involves the removal of human labor from the [[mining]] process.<ref>"[http://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/mining-energy/rio-to-trial-automated-mining/story-e6frg9df-1111115351260 Rio to trial automated mining]." ''[[The Australian]]''.</ref> The [[Mining#Industry|mining industry]] is currently in the transition towards automation. Currently, it can still require a large amount of [[human capital]], particularly in the [[third world]] where labor costs are low so there is less incentive for increasing efficiency through automation.

===Video surveillance===

The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency ([[DARPA]]) started the research and development of automated visual [[surveillance]] and monitoring (VSAM) program, between 1997 and 1999, and airborne video surveillance (AVS) programs, from 1998 to 2002. Currently, there is a major effort underway in the vision community to develop a fully-automated [[Space Tracking and Surveillance System|tracking surveillance]] system. Automated video surveillance monitors people and vehicles in real-time within a busy environment. Existing automated surveillance systems are based on the environment they are primarily designed to observe, i.e., indoor, outdoor or airborne, the number of sensors that the automated system can handle and the mobility of sensors, i.e., stationary camera vs. mobile camera. The purpose of a surveillance system is to record properties and trajectories of objects in a given area, generate warnings or notify the designated authorities in case of occurrence of particular events.<ref>Javed, O, & Shah, M. (2008). [https://books.google.com/books?id=UVcVLjtst74C Automated multi-camera surveillance]. City of Publication: Springer-Verlag New York Inc.</ref>

===Highway systems===
{{main|Automated highway systems|Vehicular automation}}

As demands for safety and mobility have grown and technological possibilities have multiplied, interest in automation has grown. Seeking to accelerate the development and introduction of fully automated vehicles and highways, the [[U.S. Congress]] authorized more than $650 million over six years for [[intelligent transport system]]s (ITS) and demonstration projects in the 1991 ''[[Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act]]'' (ISTEA). Congress legislated in ISTEA that:<ref>''[[Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act]]'' 1991, part B, Section 6054(b)</ref><blockquote>[T]he [[United States Secretary of Transportation|Secretary of Transportation]] shall develop an automated highway and vehicle prototype from which future fully automated intelligent vehicle-highway systems can be developed. Such development shall include research in human factors to ensure the success of the man-machine relationship. The goal of this program is to have the first fully automated highway roadway or an automated test track in operation by 1997. This system shall accommodate the installation of equipment in new and existing motor vehicles.</blockquote>Full automation commonly defined as requiring no control or very limited control by the driver; such automation would be accomplished through a combination of sensor, computer, and communications systems in vehicles and along the roadway. Fully automated driving would, in theory, allow closer vehicle spacing and higher speeds, which could enhance traffic capacity in places where additional road building is physically impossible, politically unacceptable, or prohibitively expensive. Automated controls also might enhance road safety by reducing the opportunity for driver error, which causes a large share of motor vehicle crashes. Other potential benefits include improved air quality (as a result of more-efficient traffic flows), increased fuel economy, and spin-off technologies generated during research and development related to automated highway systems.<ref>Menzies, Thomas R., ed. 1998. "[https://books.google.com/books?id=pj4XHb_x1wYC National Automated Highway System Research Program: A Review]." [[Transportation Research Board|''Transportation Research Board Special Report'']] 253. Washington, D.C.: [[National Academy Press]]. pp. 2–50.</ref>

===Waste management===
[[File:Automated side loader operation.webm|thumb|Automated side loader operation]]
Automated waste collection trucks prevent the need for as many workers as well as easing the level of labor required to provide the service.<ref>Hepker, Aaron. (27 November 2012) [http://www.kcrg.com/news/local/Automated-Garbage-Trucks-Hitting-Cedar-Rapids-Streets-181070351.html Automated Garbage Trucks Hitting Cedar Rapids Streets | KCRG-TV9 | Cedar Rapids, Iowa News, Sports, and Weather | Local News] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130116072459/http://www.kcrg.com/news/local/Automated-Garbage-Trucks-Hitting-Cedar-Rapids-Streets-181070351.html |date=16 January 2013 }}. Kcrg.com. Retrieved on 12 July 2013.</ref>

===Business process===
{{main|Business process automation}}
Business process automation (BPA) is the technology-enabled automation of complex [[business process]]es.<ref>{{cite web|title=Business Process Automation – Gartner IT Glossary|url=https://www.gartner.com/it-glossary/bpa-business-process-automation|access-date=20 January 2019|website=Gartner.com}}</ref> It can help to streamline a business for simplicity, achieve [[digital transformation]], increase [[service quality]], improve service delivery or contain costs. BPA consists of integrating applications, restructuring labor resources and using software applications throughout the organization. [[Robotic process automation]] (RPA; or RPAAI for self-guided RPA 2.0) is an emerging field within BPA and uses AI. BPAs can be implemented in a number of business areas including marketing, sales and workflow.

===Home===
{{main|Home automation}}
Home automation (also called '''domotics''') designates an emerging practice of increased automation of household appliances and features in residential dwellings, particularly through electronic means that allow for things impracticable, overly expensive or simply not possible in recent past decades. The rise in the usage of home automation solutions has taken a turn reflecting the increased dependency of people on such automation solutions. However, the increased comfort that gets added through these automation solutions is remarkable.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.domautics.com/home-automation-system|title=Smart & Intelligent Home Automation Solutions|date=15 May 2018|access-date=19 September 2018|archive-date=19 September 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180919132559/http://www.domautics.com/home-automation-system|url-status=dead}}</ref>

===Laboratory===
{{Main|Laboratory automation}}

[[File:GammaGIF.gif|alt=Automated laboratory instrument|thumb|Automated laboratory instrument]]

Automation is essential for many scientific and clinical applications.<ref>{{Cite book|title=Practical Laboratory Automation: Made Easy with AutoIt|last=Carvalho|first=Matheus|publisher=Wiley VCH|year=2017|isbn=978-3-527-34158-0}}</ref> Therefore, automation has been extensively employed in laboratories. From as early as 1980 fully automated laboratories have already been working.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Boyd|first=James|s2cid=108766687|date=18 January 2002|title=Robotic Laboratory Automation|journal=Science|volume=295|issue=5554|pages=517–518|doi=10.1126/science.295.5554.517|issn=0036-8075|pmid=11799250}}</ref> However, automation has not become widespread in laboratories due to its high cost. This may change with the ability of integrating low-cost devices with standard laboratory equipment.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Carvalho|first=Matheus C.|date=1 August 2013|title=Integration of Analytical Instruments with Computer Scripting|journal=Journal of Laboratory Automation|volume=18|issue=4|pages=328–333|doi=10.1177/2211068213476288|issn=2211-0682|pmid=23413273|doi-access=free}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|title=Chapter 1 - Introduction to Open-Source Hardware for Science|last=Pearce|first=Joshua M.|date=1 January 2014|publisher=Elsevier|isbn=978-0-12-410462-4|location=Boston|pages=1–11|doi=10.1016/b978-0-12-410462-4.00001-9|chapter=Introduction to Open-Source Hardware for Science}}</ref> [[Autosampler]]s are common devices used in laboratory automation.

===Logistics automation===
{{main|Logistics automation}}Logistics automation is the application of [[computer software]] or automated machinery to improve the efficiency of [[logistics]] operations. Typically this refers to operations within a [[warehouse]] or [[distribution center]], with broader tasks undertaken by [[supply chain engineering]] systems and [[enterprise resource planning]] systems.

===Industrial automation===
{{See also|Building automation|Laboratory automation}}Industrial automation deals primarily with the automation of [[manufacturing]], [[quality control]], and [[material handling]] processes. General-purpose controllers for industrial processes include [[programmable logic controller]]s, [[Stand-alone power system|stand-alone I/O modules]], and computers. Industrial automation is to replace the human action and manual command-response activities with the use of mechanized equipment and logical programming commands. One trend is increased use of [[machine vision]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.controleng.com/articles/what-is-machine-vision-and-how-can-it-help/|title=What is machine vision, and how can it help?|date=6 December 2018|website=Control Engineering}}</ref> to provide automatic inspection and robot guidance functions, another is a continuing increase in the use of robots. Industrial automation is simply required in industries.

====Industrial Automation and Industry 4.0====
{{See also|Work 4.0}}The rise of industrial automation is directly tied to the "[[Fourth Industrial Revolution]]", which is better known now as Industry 4.0. Originating from Germany, Industry 4.0 encompasses numerous devices, concepts, and machines,<ref name="doi.org">{{Cite journal | doi=10.11113/jt.v78.9285|title = Industry 4.0: A Review on Industrial Automation and Robotic| journal=Jurnal Teknologi| volume=78| issue=6–13|year = 2016|last1 = Kamarul Bahrin|first1 = Mohd Aiman| last2=Othman| first2=Mohd Fauzi| last3=Nor Azli| first3=Nor Hayati| last4=Talib| first4=Muhamad Farihin| doi-access=}}</ref> as well as the advancement of the [[industrial internet of things]] (IIoT). An "[[Internet of things|Internet of Things]] is a seamless integration of diverse physical objects in the Internet through a virtual representation."<ref>{{Cite book | doi=10.1109/IMIS.2012.134|chapter = Integrating Building Automation Systems and IPv6 in the Internet of Things|title = 2012 Sixth International Conference on Innovative Mobile and Internet Services in Ubiquitous Computing| pages=683–688|year = 2012|last1 = Jung|first1 = Markus| last2=Reinisch| first2=Christian| last3=Kastner| first3=Wolfgang|s2cid = 11670295| isbn=978-1-4673-1328-5}}</ref> These new revolutionary advancements have drawn attention to the world of automation in an entirely new light and shown ways for it to grow to increase productivity and efficiency in machinery and manufacturing facilities. Industry 4.0 works with the IIoT and software/hardware to connect in a way that (through [[Information and communications technology|communication technologies]]) add enhancements and improve manufacturing processes. Being able to create smarter, safer, and more advanced manufacturing is now possible with these new technologies. It opens up a manufacturing platform that is more reliable, consistent, and efficient than before. Implementation of systems such as [[SCADA]] is an example of software that takes place in Industrial Automation today. SCADA is a supervisory data collection software, just one of the many used in Industrial Automation.<ref>{{cite journal | last=Pérez-López | first=Esteban | title=Los sistemas SCADA en la automatización industrial | journal=Revista Tecnología en Marcha | volume=28 | issue=4 | date=2015-12-11 | issn=2215-3241 | doi=10.18845/tm.v28i4.2438 | doi-access=free | page=3 | doi-broken-date=4 December 2024 |url=https://revistas.tec.ac.cr/index.php/tec_marcha/article/download/2438/2224}}</ref> Industry 4.0 vastly covers many areas in manufacturing and will continue to do so as time goes on.<ref name="doi.org" />

====Industrial robotics====
[[File:Workmaster.jpg|alt=Large automated milling machines inside a big warehouse-style lab room|thumb|Automated milling machines]]
[[Industrial robotics]] is a sub-branch in industrial automation that aids in various manufacturing processes. Such manufacturing processes include machining, welding, painting, assembling and material handling to name a few.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Shell|first1=Richard|title=Handbook of Industrial Automation|url=https://archive.org/details/handbookindustri00shel_442|url-access=limited|date=2000|page=[https://archive.org/details/handbookindustri00shel_442/page/n305 46]|publisher=Taylor & Francis |isbn=978-0-8247-0373-8}}</ref> Industrial robots use various mechanical, electrical as well as software systems to allow for high precision, accuracy and speed that far exceed any human performance. The birth of industrial robots came shortly after World War II as the U.S. saw the need for a quicker way to produce industrial and consumer goods.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Kurfess|first1=Thomas|title=Robotics and Automation Handbook|url=https://archive.org/details/roboticsautomati00kurf_743|url-access=limited|date=2005|page=[https://archive.org/details/roboticsautomati00kurf_743/page/n35 5]|publisher=Taylor & Francis |isbn=978-0-8493-1804-7}}</ref> Servos, digital logic and solid-state electronics allowed engineers to build better and faster systems and over time these systems were improved and revised to the point where a single robot is capable of running 24 hours a day with little or no maintenance. In 1997, there were 700,000 industrial robots in use, the number has risen to 1.8M in 2017<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.pwc.com/gx/en/ceo-agenda/ceosurvey/2017/gx/talent.html|title=Managing man and machine|last=PricewaterhouseCoopers|work=PwC|access-date=4 December 2017}}</ref> In recent years, AI with [[robotics]] is also used in creating an automatic labeling solution, using robotic arms as the automatic label applicator, and AI for learning and detecting the products to be labelled.<ref>{{cite web|url= https://milliontech.com/solutions/label-printing/irls-intelligent-robotics-labeling-system|title=AI Automatic Label Applicator & Labelling System|publisher=Milliontech|date=18 January 2018
}}</ref>

====Programmable Logic Controllers====
Industrial automation incorporates programmable logic controllers in the manufacturing process. [[Programmable logic controller]]s (PLCs) use a processing system which allows for variation of controls of inputs and outputs using simple programming. PLCs make use of programmable memory, storing instructions and functions like logic, sequencing, timing, counting, etc. Using a logic-based language, a PLC can receive a variety of inputs and return a variety of logical outputs, the input devices being sensors and output devices being motors, valves, etc. PLCs are similar to computers, however, while computers are optimized for calculations, PLCs are optimized for control tasks and use in industrial environments. They are built so that only basic logic-based programming knowledge is needed and to handle vibrations, high temperatures, humidity, and noise. The greatest advantage PLCs offer is their flexibility. With the same basic controllers, a PLC can operate a range of different control systems. PLCs make it unnecessary to rewire a system to change the control system. This flexibility leads to a cost-effective system for complex and varied control systems.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Bolten|first1=William|title=Programmable Logic Controllers|date=2009|edition=5th|page=3}}</ref>

PLCs can range from small "building brick" devices with tens of I/O in a housing integral with the processor, to large rack-mounted modular devices with a count of thousands of I/O, and which are often networked to other PLC and [[SCADA]] systems.

They can be designed for multiple arrangements of digital and analog [[Input/output stream|inputs and outputs]] (I/O), extended temperature ranges, immunity to [[noise (electronics)|electrical noise]], and resistance to vibration and impact. Programs to control machine operation are typically stored in battery-backed-up or [[non-volatile memory]].

It was from the automotive industry in the United States that the PLC was born. Before the PLC, control, sequencing, and safety interlock logic for manufacturing automobiles was mainly composed of [[relay]]s, [[cam timer]]s, [[drum sequencer (controller)|drum sequencer]]s, and dedicated closed-loop controllers. Since these could number in the hundreds or even thousands, the process for updating such facilities for the yearly model [[changeover|change-over]] was very time-consuming and expensive, as [[electrician]]s needed to individually rewire the relays to change their operational characteristics.

When digital computers became available, being general-purpose programmable devices, they were soon applied to control sequential and combinatorial logic in industrial processes. However, these early computers required specialist programmers and stringent operating environmental control for temperature, cleanliness, and power quality. To meet these challenges, the PLC was developed with several key attributes. It would tolerate the shop-floor environment, it would support discrete (bit-form) input and output in an easily extensible manner, it would not require years of training to use, and it would permit its operation to be monitored. Since many industrial processes have timescales easily addressed by millisecond response times, modern (fast, small, reliable) electronics greatly facilitate building reliable controllers, and performance could be traded off for reliability.<ref name=Parr00>E. A. Parr, ''Industrial Control Handbook'', Industrial Press Inc., 1999 {{ISBN|0-8311-3085-7}}</ref>

====Agent-assisted automation====
{{main|Agent-assisted automation}}
Agent-assisted automation refers to automation used by call center agents to handle customer inquiries. The key benefit of agent-assisted automation is compliance and error-proofing. Agents are sometimes not fully trained or they forget or ignore key steps in the process. The use of automation ensures that what is supposed to happen on the call actually does, every time. There are two basic types: desktop automation and automated voice solutions.