Automation
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Automation describes a wide range of technologies that reduce human intervention in processes, mainly by predetermining decision criteria, subprocess relationships, and related actions, as well as emb
Minimum human intervention is required to control many large facilities, such as this electrical generating station.
Ctesibius's clepsydra (3rd century BC)
Steam engines promoted automation through the need to control engine speed and power.
A flyball governor is an early example of a feedback control system. An increase in speed would make the counterweights move outward, sliding a linkage that tended to close the valve supplying steam, and so slowing the engine.
Control engineering
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Control engineering, also known as control systems engineering and, in some European countries, automation engineering, is an engineering discipline that deals with control systems, applying control t
Control systems play a critical role in space flight.
Control of fractionating columns is one of the more challenging applications.
The centrifugal governor is an early proportional control mechanism.