Please refer to the respective ILIAS course for the specific dates.

Aims

The lecture describes the milestones of automation from the beginning of Ethernet and fieldbus system developments as well as the emergence of the OSI model and the automation pyramid. It provides a focus on the development of field devices and automation components in the context of the influence of electronics, µ-controller, DSP, FPGA, multi-core processor and chip-on-bond developments as well as software and algorithms.

Content of the lectures

• Industry 4.0
• Made in China 2025
• IoT (Internet of Things) and Industry 4.0
• System integration of fully automated production lines
• Networking topologies with regard to the automation pyramid and OSI model
• Artificial intelligence
• Neural networks
• Pattern recognition
• Predictive maintenance
• Complexity pyramid in automation
• Solutions business (added value selling) in automation
• Digitalization
• Environmental requirements for system technology in the factory and process industry
• Fieldbuses and real-time bus systems and their integration into automated production processes
• Examples of the integration of real-time measuring systems for quality control

In particular, correlations and developments in the subject areas are discussed. Another focus is the formation of committees in automation, their objectives and efforts towards standardization.

The 12 most important fieldbuses are discussed with regard to their history, protocols and technology, such as

• Ethernet
• EtherNet/IP
• EtherCAT
• PROFINET
• PROFIBUS DP
• PROFIBUS PA
• HART 7
• WirelessHART
• WLAN
• IO-Link
• OPC UA and cloud computing

Other key topics

• ASICs and hardware solutions for fieldbuses are also presented and discussed in terms of their performance.
• An overview of the fieldbus nodes currently in use and their trends will also be presented. The cost advantages of instrumentation with fieldbuses are discussed as well as the risks compared to conventional technology.
• The SCADA concept FDT/DTM for the integration of field devices (sensors and actuators) into the automation world is also discussed.
• Examples are discussed for automated solar cell production, PCB testing and car painting.
• An overview of the historical development of robots since 1970 is given.
• The development of processors from µ-controllers and DSP to multi-core processors is also discussed in detail.
• The lectures will conclude with a timeline of automation over more than 50 years.

Lecturer

The lecturer Dr.-Ing. Wolfgang Babel has two doctorates in electrical engineering, has been familiar with international automation for 40 years and has helped to shape the experiences of 5 automation technology groups.