Glossary of industrial automation

This glossary of industrial automation is a list of definitions of terms and illustrations related specifically to the field of industrial automation. For a more general view on electric engineering, see Glossary of electrical and electronics engineering. For terms related to engineering in general, see Glossary of engineering.

A
abbreviated address calling:' that enables a user to employ an ' having fewer than the full address when initiating a call.

absolute coordinates:The absolute distances or angles that specify the position of a point with respect to the datum of a coordinate system.

absolute coordinate:One of the coordinates that identify the position of an with respect to the origin of a specified coordinate system.

absolute error:The algebraic result of subtracting a true, specified or theoretically correct value from the computed, observed, measured or achieved value.

absolute instruction:A display command using.

absolute position sensor:A that gives directly the coordinate position of an element of a machine.

absolute programming:Programming using indicating absolute dimensions.

absolute vector:A vector whose start and end points are specified in.

acceleration:Rate of change of the at the point under consideration per unit of time.

accuracy:A qualitative assessment of freedom from or of the degree of conformity to a desired value, a high assessment corresponding to a small error.

active accommodation:Type of control in which the combination of sensor outputs, control commands, and robot motion is used to achieve alteration of a robot's preprogrammed motions in response to sensed inputs (e.g, used to stop a robot when forces reach set levels, or to perform force feedback tasks like insertions, door opening and edge tracing).

active devices:Devices which require a power supply independent of the value of input signals.

active output:Output the power of which in all possible states of the device is derived from supply power.

actual conditions:Conditions observed during operation.

actuator:A power mechanism used to effect motion of the robot (e.g. a motor which converts electrical, hydraulic or pneumatic energy to effect motion of the robot).

adaptive control:A control scheme that adjusts the control system parameters from conditions detected during the process.

address (in numerical control):A ', or group of characters, at the beginning of a ', that identifies the data following in the word.

address block format:A ' in which each ' contains an address.

address tabulation block format:A ' in which each ' contains an address.

addressable point:Any point of a device that can be addressed.

aiming field:On a, a circle or other pattern of light used to indicate the area in which the presence of a light-pen can be detected at a given time.

alignment function character:The ' ":" used as the ' character for a sequence number word that indicates a ' in a ' after which are recorded the necessary for machining to be commenced or recommenced.

alignment pose:A specified ' of the ' in relation to the.

ambient temperature:Temperature of the environment in which the apparatus is working.

amplification:Ratio between the output signal variations and the control signal variations (for analogue devices only).

amplifier:Any device that increases the magnitude of an applied signal. It receives an input signal and delivers a larger output signal that, in addition to its increased amplitude, is a replica of the input signal.

analog data: a represented by a physical quantity that is considered to be continuously variable and whose magnitude is made directly proportional to the data or to a suitable function of the data.

analog input channel amplifier:An amplifier attached to one or more analog input channels, that adapts the analog signal level to the input range of the succeeding analog-to-digital converter.

analog input channel (in process control):The path between the connector and the analog-to-digital converter in the analog input subsystem.

analog output channel amplifier:An amplifier attached to one or more analog output channels, that adapts the output ' range of the digital-to-analog converter to the signal level necessary to control the '.

analog representation:A representation of the value of a variable by a physical quantity that is considered to be continuously variable, the magnitude of the physical quantity being made directly proportional to the variable or to a suitable function of the variable.

analogue anplifier: the output of which is continuously variable with the applied control signal.

anisochronous transmission:A process in which there is always an integral number of unit intervals between any two significant instants in the same group; between two significant instants located in different groups, there is not always an integral number of unit intervals.

answering:The process of responding to a calling station to complete the establishment of a ' between '.

anti-vibration mounting:Device for insulating machine vibrations from the structure upon which it is mounted.

argument (in numerical control):' which qualifies a '.

arm (primary axes):An interconnected set of links and powered joints comprising members of longitudinal shape which supports, positions and orientates the wrist and/or an end effector.

articulated structure:Set of links and joints which constitutes the arm and the wrist.

asynchronous transmission:' in which the time of occurrence of the start of each ', or of characters, is arbitrary; once started, the time of occurrence of each signal representing a bit within the character, or block, has the same relationship to significant instants of a fixed time base.

attained pose:The pose achieved by the robot in response to the command pose.

automatic:Pertaining to a or device that, under specified conditions, functions without human intervention.

automatic answering:' in which the called data terminal equipment (DTE) automatically responds to the calling '.

automatic calling (in a data network):' in which the elements of the ' are entered into the contiguously at the full data signaling rate.

automatic control:Control method which operates without human intervention.

automatic cycle: of operations which, once started, repeats indefinitely until stopped.

automatic mode:The ' in which the robot control system can operate in accordance with the '.

autcmatic mode of operation:The mode of operation of a numerically controlled machine in which it operates in accordance with the control until stopped by the program or the operator.

automation:The implementation of processes by automatic means.

axis:A direction in which a part of a robot can move in a linear or rotary mode. The number of axes is normally the number of guided and mutually independently driven links.A direction in which a part of a machine can move in a linear or rotary mode.

Websites

 * Glossary of Industrial Automation
 * Automation Glossary of terms
 * Glossary of technical terms commonly used by ABB
 * An automation glossary
 * Glossary - Industrial Electronic/Electrical Terms
 * Robotics Glossary: a Guide to Terms and Technologies

PDFs

 * Glossary of Terms used in Programmable Controller-based Systems
 * Glossary of Terms for Process Control
 * INDUSTRY 4.0: Glossary of terms/buzzwords/jargon