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Automation primarily reduces human involvement by predetermining decision criteria and embedding these actions into machines, rather than solely relying on advanced robotics.
Answer: True
Explanation: The fundamental definition of automation involves reducing human involvement by embedding predetermined decision criteria and actions into machines, utilizing various technologies.
The term 'automation' was widely adopted before 1940, primarily due to its use in early textile mills.
Answer: False
Explanation: The term 'automation' gained widespread use after 1947, notably popularized by Ford Motor Company, rather than before 1940 or primarily by early textile mills.
Ctesibius described the earliest known feedback-controlled mechanism, a float regulator for a water clock, around 270 BC.
Answer: True
Explanation: Ctesibius is credited with describing the earliest known feedback-controlled mechanism, a float regulator for a water clock, around 270 BC.
The Banu Musa brothers' 'Book of Ingenious Devices' from 850 AD included descriptions of advanced automatic controls, such as two-step level controls for fluids and a feedback controller.
Answer: True
Explanation: The Banu Musa brothers' 'Book of Ingenious Devices' from 850 AD detailed advanced automatic controls, including two-step level controls for fluids and a feedback controller.
James Watt invented the centrifugal governor in the seventeenth century for use on steam engines.
Answer: False
Explanation: The centrifugal governor was invented by Christiaan Huygens in the seventeenth century, and James Watt later adopted it for steam engines in 1788.
Oliver Evans developed the first completely automated industrial process, an automatic flour mill, in 1785.
Answer: True
Explanation: Oliver Evans is recognized for developing the first completely automated industrial process, an automatic flour mill, in 1785.
The development of the electronic amplifier and negative feedback in the 1920s was crucial for long-distance telephony and significantly advanced control theory.
Answer: True
Explanation: The electronic amplifier and negative feedback, developed in the 1920s, were indeed crucial for long-distance telephony and significantly advanced control theory.
Texaco's Port Arthur Refinery was the first chemical plant to implement analog control in 1959.
Answer: False
Explanation: Texaco's Port Arthur Refinery was the first chemical plant to implement digital control in 1959, not analog control.
The automatic telephone switchboard, introduced in 1892, led to the entire Bell system becoming automatic by 1929.
Answer: False
Explanation: While the automatic telephone switchboard was introduced in 1892 and led to a significant portion of the Bell system becoming automatic by 1929, it did not lead to the entire system becoming automatic.
The automatic glass bottle-blowing machine, introduced in 1905, significantly increased productivity and reduced costs compared to manual methods.
Answer: True
Explanation: The automatic glass bottle-blowing machine, introduced in 1905, indeed dramatically increased productivity and reduced costs compared to manual production methods.
Sectional electric drives were first applied in steel rolling in 1919 to maintain precise speed differentials between different sections of the machinery.
Answer: False
Explanation: Sectional electric drives were first applied on a paper machine in 1919, not in steel rolling, to maintain precise speed differentials.
James Nasmyth developed self-acting machine tools in the 1840s to require greater hand dexterity from skilled laborers.
Answer: False
Explanation: James Nasmyth developed self-acting machine tools in the 1840s specifically to displace the need for hand dexterity, allowing operation by unskilled laborers, rather than requiring greater dexterity.
With the advent of the space age in 1957, controls design in the U.S. shifted from time-domain techniques back to frequency-domain techniques of classical control theory.
Answer: False
Explanation: With the advent of the space age in 1957, controls design in the U.S. shifted from frequency-domain techniques of classical control theory back to time-domain differential equation techniques.
Early industrial robots emerged after World War II to meet the demand for faster production in the U.S. and were quickly improved with digital logic and solid-state electronics.
Answer: True
Explanation: Early industrial robots emerged after World War II to meet the demand for faster production in the U.S. and were indeed quickly improved with digital logic and solid-state electronics.
What is the primary goal of automation according to its fundamental definition?
Answer: To reduce human involvement in processes by embedding predetermined actions into machines.
Explanation: The fundamental definition of automation centers on reducing human involvement in processes by embedding predetermined decision criteria and actions into machines.
When did the term 'automation' become widely used, and which company played a significant role in its popularization?
Answer: After 1947, by Ford Motor Company.
Explanation: The term 'automation' became widely used after 1947, largely due to its popularization by Ford Motor Company.
Who described the earliest known feedback-controlled mechanism, a float regulator for a water clock, around 270 BC?
Answer: Ctesibius
Explanation: Ctesibius of Ptolemaic Egypt is credited with describing the earliest known feedback-controlled mechanism, a float regulator for a water clock, around 270 BC.
Which of the following was NOT an early automated invention in the textile industry during the Industrial Revolution?
Answer: Oliver Evans' automatic flour mill in 1785.
Explanation: Oliver Evans' automatic flour mill was the first completely automated industrial process, but it was in the grain industry, not the textile industry.
What was a significant limitation of James Watt's adoption of the centrifugal governor for steam engines in 1788?
Answer: It could not maintain a precise set speed and caused oscillation during speed changes.
Explanation: James Watt's centrifugal governor, while an important step, could not maintain a precise set speed and tended to cause oscillation during speed changes, making it unsuitable for applications requiring constant speed.
Which chemical plant was the first to implement digital control, and in what year?
Answer: Texaco's Port Arthur Refinery in 1959.
Explanation: Texaco's Port Arthur Refinery was the first chemical plant to implement digital control in 1959.
What was a key economic impact of the first commercially successful automatic glass bottle-blowing machine, introduced in 1905?
Answer: It dramatically increased productivity and reduced costs.
Explanation: The automatic glass bottle-blowing machine, introduced in 1905, dramatically increased productivity and significantly reduced production costs compared to manual methods.
Where were sectional electric drives first applied in 1919?
Answer: On a paper machine.
Explanation: Sectional electric drives, used to maintain precise speed differentials, were first applied on a paper machine in 1919.
What was the purpose of James Nasmyth's self-acting machine tools developed in the 1840s?
Answer: To displace the need for hand dexterity, allowing operation by unskilled laborers.
Explanation: James Nasmyth developed self-acting machine tools in the 1840s to reduce the reliance on skilled labor and hand dexterity, enabling operation by unskilled workers.
How did controls design in the United States evolve with the advent of the space age in 1957?
Answer: It shifted from frequency-domain techniques back to time-domain differential equation techniques.
Explanation: With the advent of the space age in 1957, controls design in the U.S. shifted from frequency-domain techniques of classical control theory back to time-domain differential equation techniques.
From 1900 through the 1920s, most factory process controls were advanced proportional-integral-derivative (PID) systems, requiring minimal operator intervention.
Answer: False
Explanation: From 1900 through the 1920s, most factory process controls were on-off systems, relying on relay logic and requiring significant manual operator intervention, not advanced PID systems.
A closed-loop control system, according to the British Standards Institution, lacks monitoring feedback and therefore cannot reduce deviation to zero.
Answer: False
Explanation: According to the British Standards Institution, a closed-loop control system possesses monitoring feedback and uses its deviation signal to reduce error, unlike an open-loop system.
An open-loop control system's action is dependent on the process output, using feedback to adjust itself.
Answer: False
Explanation: An open-loop control system's action is independent of the process output and does not use feedback to adjust itself, which distinguishes it from a closed-loop system.
A PID controller continuously calculates an 'error value' and applies corrections based on proportional, integral, and derivative terms to minimize this error.
Answer: True
Explanation: A Proportional-Integral-Derivative (PID) controller continuously calculates an 'error value' and applies corrections based on proportional, integral, and derivative terms to minimize this error.
Early sequential control systems relied on complex software algorithms rather than relay logic to manage event-driven actions.
Answer: False
Explanation: Early sequential control systems primarily relied on relay logic to manage event-driven actions, rather than complex software algorithms, which emerged later with digital logic modules.
According to the British Standards Institution, what defines a closed-loop control system?
Answer: A control system that possesses monitoring feedback, using its deviation signal to reduce error.
Explanation: According to the British Standards Institution, a closed-loop control system is defined by its possession of monitoring feedback, which it uses to reduce any deviation from a desired set point.
How does an open-loop control system differ from a closed-loop control system?
Answer: An open-loop system's control action is independent of the process output, unlike a closed-loop system.
Explanation: An open-loop control system's action is independent of the process output and does not use feedback, whereas a closed-loop system's action is dependent on the process output and utilizes feedback for adjustment.
What is the primary function of a Proportional-Integral-Derivative (PID) controller?
Answer: To continuously calculate an 'error value' and apply corrections to minimize it.
Explanation: The primary function of a PID controller is to continuously calculate an 'error value' between a desired setpoint and a measured process variable, then apply corrections based on proportional, integral, and derivative terms to minimize this error.
What is sequential control, and what is a common example provided?
Answer: A system that performs a programmed sequence of discrete operations; an elevator control system.
Explanation: Sequential control involves performing a programmed sequence of discrete operations, which can be fixed or logical, with an elevator control system serving as a common example.
The World Bank's 2019 report concluded that job displacement due to automation significantly outweighs the creation of new jobs in the technology sector.
Answer: False
Explanation: The World Bank's 2019 report indicated that new industries and jobs created in the technology sector generally outweighed job displacement caused by automation.
A primary disadvantage of automation is the guarantee of perfect production without defects, eliminating the need for quality control.
Answer: False
Explanation: A primary disadvantage of automation is the risk of faster unchecked production of defects if automated processes are flawed, meaning it does not guarantee perfect production and still requires quality control.
The 'paradox of automation' suggests that as automated systems become more efficient, the human contribution of operators becomes less critical.
Answer: False
Explanation: The 'paradox of automation' posits that as automated systems become more efficient, the human contribution of operators becomes paradoxically more crucial, especially during errors or unexpected situations.
Current automation technology excels at human-level pattern recognition and language comprehension, making these tasks easily automatable.
Answer: False
Explanation: Current automation technology still struggles with human-level pattern recognition and language comprehension, making these tasks challenging to automate fully.
Studies consistently show that home automation significantly reduces energy consumption and provides substantial ecological benefits.
Answer: False
Explanation: Research on home automation shows mixed results regarding energy consumption, with some studies suggesting that the energy required to run monitoring systems can offset or negate ecological benefits.
Which of the following was NOT listed as a primary benefit of implementing automation?
Answer: Increased electricity and material costs
Explanation: Primary benefits of automation include labor savings, reduced waste, and improvements in quality, accuracy, and precision, while reduced electricity and material costs are also noted, making 'increased electricity and material costs' an incorrect benefit.
According to the World Bank's 2019 World Development Report, what was the overall economic impact of automation on jobs?
Answer: The new industries and jobs created generally outweighed job displacement.
Explanation: The World Bank's 2019 report concluded that the creation of new industries and jobs generally outweighed the economic effects of job displacement due to automation.
Which of the following is NOT listed as a primary disadvantage or limitation of automation?
Answer: Increased human adaptiveness to unexpected situations.
Explanation: Primary disadvantages of automation include high initial costs, the risk of unchecked defects, scaled-up problems, and job displacement. Human adaptiveness to unexpected situations is a human strength that automation struggles to replicate, not a disadvantage of automation itself.
What does the 'paradox of automation' imply about the role of human operators?
Answer: Human contribution becomes paradoxically more crucial when errors or unexpected situations arise.
Explanation: The 'paradox of automation' suggests that as automated systems become more efficient, the human contribution of operators becomes paradoxically more crucial, especially during system failures or unexpected events.
Which human-like capabilities does current automation technology still struggle with?
Answer: High-level strategic planning and subjective assessment.
Explanation: Current automation technology continues to struggle with human-level pattern recognition, language comprehension, subjective assessment, and high-level strategic planning.
Agricultural automation primarily aims to replace all human labor on farms, regardless of the task's complexity.
Answer: False
Explanation: Agricultural automation primarily aims to relieve drudgery, improve timeliness and precision, and raise productivity and resource-use efficiency, which can free up labor for other activities, rather than replacing all human labor regardless of complexity.
Automated mining is influenced by labor costs, with less incentive for adoption in regions where labor is inexpensive.
Answer: True
Explanation: The adoption of automated mining is indeed influenced by labor costs, with less incentive for its implementation in regions where labor is inexpensive.
The U.S. Congress authorized over $650 million in 1991 to accelerate the development of fully automated vehicles and highways.
Answer: True
Explanation: In 1991, the U.S. Congress authorized over $650 million through the ISTEA to accelerate the development of fully automated vehicles and highways.
Business Process Automation (BPA) focuses solely on integrating software applications without restructuring labor resources.
Answer: False
Explanation: Business Process Automation (BPA) involves not only integrating software applications but also restructuring labor resources to streamline processes and achieve digital transformation.
Widespread laboratory automation has been slow to adopt primarily due to the lack of suitable low-cost devices.
Answer: False
Explanation: Widespread laboratory automation has been slow to adopt primarily due to its high cost, although this trend may change with the integration of low-cost devices.
Logistics automation primarily refers to the application of automated machinery within a warehouse or distribution center.
Answer: True
Explanation: Logistics automation primarily refers to the application of computer software or automated machinery to enhance efficiency within a warehouse or distribution center.
The rise of industrial automation is directly linked to Industry 4.0, which integrates various devices and concepts to enhance manufacturing processes.
Answer: True
Explanation: The rise of industrial automation is directly linked to Industry 4.0, which integrates various devices, concepts, and the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) to enhance manufacturing processes.
An Automated Teller Machine (ATM) is an example of computer control in an interactive process, performing logic-derived responses based on user selections and networked data.
Answer: True
Explanation: An Automated Teller Machine (ATM) serves as an example of computer control in an interactive process, executing logic-derived responses based on user selections and networked data.
What is 'lights-out manufacturing' designed to achieve?
Answer: Operation without human workers to eliminate labor costs.
Explanation: 'Lights-out manufacturing' is a production system designed to operate without human workers, primarily to eliminate labor costs.
What are some technologies automating power production mentioned in the source?
Answer: Solar panels, wind turbines, and smart grids.
Explanation: Technologies automating power production include solar panels, wind turbines, and other renewable energy sources, integrated with smart grids, micro-grids, and battery storage systems.
What is a key benefit of agricultural automation?
Answer: Raising productivity and resource-use efficiency.
Explanation: A key benefit of agricultural automation is raising productivity and resource-use efficiency, alongside improving timeliness and precision of operations.
How has retail automation, such as self-checkout systems, impacted the industry?
Answer: It has reduced the need for checkout workers and physical retail property.
Explanation: Retail automation, including self-checkout systems and online shopping, has reduced the need for checkout workers and physical retail property.
What are the goals of automation in construction?
Answer: To reduce jobsite injuries, decrease activity completion times, and assist with quality control.
Explanation: The goals of automation in construction include reducing jobsite injuries, decreasing activity completion times, and assisting with quality control and quality assurance.
What legislative action did the U.S. Congress take in 1991 to promote automated highway systems?
Answer: Authorized over $650 million through the ISTEA for automated vehicles and highways.
Explanation: In 1991, the U.S. Congress authorized over $650 million through the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act (ISTEA) to accelerate the development of fully automated vehicles and highways.
What is 'domotics' primarily concerned with?
Answer: The increasing automation of household appliances and features in residential dwellings.
Explanation: 'Domotics,' or home automation, is primarily concerned with the increasing automation of household appliances and features in residential dwellings to enhance comfort.
Why has widespread laboratory automation been slow to adopt, despite its importance?
Answer: The high cost of implementation.
Explanation: Widespread laboratory automation has been slow to adopt primarily due to the high cost of implementation, although this trend may change with the integration of low-cost devices.
What is the relationship between industrial automation and Industry 4.0?
Answer: The rise of industrial automation is directly linked to Industry 4.0, enhancing manufacturing processes.
Explanation: The rise of industrial automation is directly linked to Industry 4.0, which integrates various devices and concepts, including the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT), to enhance manufacturing processes.
What is the primary benefit of agent-assisted automation in call centers?
Answer: It ensures compliance and error-proofing by consistently following all process steps.
Explanation: The primary benefit of agent-assisted automation in call centers is ensuring compliance and error-proofing by consistently following all necessary process steps.
Cognitive automation is a subset of Artificial Intelligence that automates clerical tasks and workflows involving unstructured data, relying on disciplines like natural language processing and machine learning.
Answer: True
Explanation: Cognitive automation, a subset of Artificial Intelligence, automates clerical tasks and workflows involving unstructured data by leveraging disciplines such as natural language processing and machine learning.
AI in CAD is limited to basic geometric shape generation and does not extend to text-to-3D or image-to-3D automation.
Answer: False
Explanation: AI in CAD extends beyond basic geometric shape generation to include text-to-3D, image-to-3D, and video-to-3D automation, as well as AI CAD assistants.
According to Deloitte, which of the following tasks can cognitive automation replicate?
Answer: Document redaction and data extraction.
Explanation: According to Deloitte, cognitive automation can replicate tasks such as document redaction, data extraction, document synthesis/reporting, and contract management.