When people think of the automation industry, the majority of us think about the advanced technology that we see in the news like robotics, machine learning and artificial intelligence.
Yet, most people do not realise that automation has played a part in society for hundreds of years. Automation can be defined as the creation of technology, and its application in order to control the production process for various new goods and services.
Historically, automation has been around in various forms since the Ancient Greeks, but it has only been in the past 100 years that it shows resemblance to what we think about it in the modern day. Junair Spraybooths, automated spray systems specialists, have curated a detailed timeline of the history of automation so we can understand how it came to be what it is today.
762 B.C.: Ancient Greece
The word “automation” can be traced back to 762 B.C.by Homer in “The Iliad” where the word was used to describe a self-moving chariot used by Hephaestus, the god of fire and craftsmanship. Although there is no proof that there was ever a self-moving chariot ever existed, it showed that Greeks were thinking about automation technology to solve problems, which then allowed them to improve the efficiency of creating tools and weapons.
The early Greeks also used basic automation technology skills to create reaction motors in the 14th century, as well as clocks that had a complex assembly and their own power source to operate.
1AD: Egypt
Another form of traditional automation in history can be seen in Egypt over 2000 years ago. Where Heron of Alexandria, an engineer and mathematician created the first prototype of what resembles a modern-day vending machine.
The 1800s: The Industrial Revolution
The industrial revolution was really the start of what is deemed as modern automation technology.
One of the first advancements of what is now known as automation technology was the punchcard machines, commonly used for clocking in and out of workplaces, which were created by using a mechanical loom in 1801.
More modern developments were seen over this time period as there was an increased demand for paper and cotton that production methods had to change. In the textile industry, when machines like the cotton gin became mechanised, powered by water and steam, which allowed for greater production.
While in the paper industry a machine called the Fourdrinier was invented, which allowed for continuous sheets of paper to be produced. This allowed for the machine to be adapted for creating continuous sheets of rolling iron and metals.
The early 1900s: The turn of the century
Ford Motor Company was at the forefront of the automation industry, in general, but very much so in the automotive space. In 1913, they were the first to create and use a moving assembly line, which revolutionised mass production, for their Tin-Lizzy car. This took production time from 12 hours per car to just over 90 minutes per car.
The 1930s & 40s: The wartime era
The 1930s saw the creation of the first robot, which was called Elektro. Elektro was developed by Westinghouse Electric Corporation and was shown at the 1939 World’s Fair. The robot had a 700-word vocabulary, stood at over two metres tall, and could respond to voice commands. When given the right voice command the robot could walk, talk, count and even smoke a cigarette.
The decade also saw Japan become a leader in developing components that helped grow the automation of the industry. This included the development of the first electric timer, a micro switch and protective relays. These advancements then led to the creation of a proximity switch.
Throughout World War Two, automated technology was used to help create and design tanks, fighter jets and more. It also saw the creation of the first computer in 1943, which was used to help the British decode German messages during the war.
It wasn’t until the 1940s when the term “automation industry” was coined by D.S. Harder, a Ford Motor Company engineer. This was because of the rapid growth of the automobile industry, and the increased use of automatic devices used in the manufacturing and production of cars and other vehicles.
1970’s: The birth of the Digital Revolution
In the early 1970s, during the start of what was dubbed the digital revolution, more technological advances were happening. The development in microprocessors, technology in batteries and magnetic memory was started and redefined throughout the decade. The general public as well as also becoming more familiar with the idea of robots and robotic practices, with the release of Star Wars with humanoid robots like C3PO and R2D2.
By the late 1970s and early 1980s, the majority of people were seeing the benefit of this, with the increased use and demand for personal computers in the workplace.
For the automotive industry, the benefits of automation came in very quickly. In the late 60s and early 70s, General Motors were prototyping industrial robots that could perform various tasks such as welding. The success of this was then used by other car manufacturers.
The 1970s also saw robotic advancements in the automotive industry. A robotic arm that was developed by Stanford made it possible for robot arms to complete more tasks, as it was able to move more freely than older models.
Then, only four years later, the arm was improved and re-designed by MIT. The arm model was embedded with sensors and a microprocessor that allowed the arm to be more versatile. The redevelopment of the arm created a boom for the design seeing a 30% sales growth for the arm, which primarily came from the automotive industry.
This continued into the 80s as the industry saw continued growth in the automotive industry using automation tools. Billions of dollar were being spent by a number of companies to automate the car manufacturing process.
The 21st century and future predictions
The 2000s saw even more advancements in the automotive industry, with automation tools being at the forefront of it. By 2000 90% of robots in the world were used in factories with over 50% of them being used in car manufacturing.
Since 2010 the use of robots and robotics in the automotive industry has increased vehicle production by 15.85% every year, as newer advancements happen. Newer automation advancements in the automotive industry have got a lot to do with the car themselves, rather than the manufacturing process.
With high-end electric cars on the rise, there is now more advanced technology being used and developed, which is likely to become normalised in the industry. Tesla is a prime example of this. Tesla production is 75% automated, with the majority of people working on the production line are tasked with monitoring the robotics. The car already has several automated features as part of its autopilot feature. Including semi-autonomous driving on selected roads, self-parking and automatic lane changes.
Automated and fully autonomous vehicles are likely to be on our motorways in the not so distant future. Yet there are still some issues that will need to be discussed before this becomes commonplace. Including how to communicate the technology to the wider public and how they can benefit and use it, how to anticipate how humans will want to use and experience automated vehicles.
The biggest obstacle other than the safety of the vehicles is figuring out how to make the public accept and feel safe with the technology, as it will be different from what has been seen as normal for almost a century.
The automation industry and technology has come a long way in a very short time period when you compare it to the history of automation in general. With so much already happening, it will be interesting to see where it goes in the future.