{"id":104,"date":"2022-03-10T14:52:32","date_gmt":"2022-03-10T13:52:32","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/au.feri.um.si\/?page_id=104"},"modified":"2026-10-25T07:48:10","modified_gmt":"2026-10-25T07:48:10","slug":"avtomatika","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/au.feri.um.si\/en\/avtomatika\/","title":{"rendered":"Automation"},"content":{"rendered":"

Automation is an ever-evolving interdisciplinary field that uses technology to ease human work or to extend people's mental and\/or physical abilities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Once this meant mechanising some simple processes; today it involves modern, advanced technologies for achieving a wide range of goals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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01 \/ Autonomous systems<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The science of autonomous systems<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

An autonomous system is a system that can perform various tasks without human help or supervision. Autonomous systems carry out different tasks or complex processes and so help us in our work, our homes and our lives.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Today they are present in every area of human activity. Their importance is growing rapidly, as they directly and significantly increase human productivity, efficiency and safety, while relieving people of monotonous, unproductive or dangerous tasks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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At home<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Central heating that takes care of our comfort with minimal energy use.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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In industry<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Production systems that increase productivity, added value and product quality.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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In space<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Interplanetary probes and robots that independently explore distant planets in extreme environments completely hostile to humans.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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02 \/ Closed loop<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Structure of an autonomous system<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Automation incorporates and combines knowledge from logic control and control theory, sensors, actuators, (tele)communications, electronics, informatics, machines and devices, computer science, processes, etc. A system that performs autonomous tasks in an environment consists of:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Senses<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sensors<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Acquire information from the environment.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Decision-making<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Control system<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Analyses the information from the environment and controls the actuators.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Effectors<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Actuators<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Act on the system or the environment in which the system operates.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

\"Avtonomni\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button>
Structure of an autonomous system and the closed loop<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The figure also illustrates one of the fundamental principles on which automation systems rest: the closed loop. In closed-loop control, an autonomous system uses sensors to acquire data from the environment in which it operates or which it controls. It then analyses this data and often compares it with other available information and past data. Based on this analysis, the control system drives the actuators, which act on the environment. The changes in the environment caused by the actuators are detected by the sensors. This completes, or closes, the control loop.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, the environment is affected not only by the actuators but also by a range of other predictable, less predictable or unpredictable phenomena. It is the closed loop that makes it possible to adapt to and handle these unpredictable influences in a way that ensures optimal operation of the autonomous system. There are various closed-loop control principles with which different desired properties of complex processes can be achieved.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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03 \/ Computing<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Automation and computing<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Autonomous systems are much more than a closed loop. Modern automated systems rely heavily on information and communication technologies, with which they achieve various goals:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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