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{{TopicTOC-Electrical engineering}}

{{Incomplete list|date=January 2021}}

This '''glossary of industrial automation''' is a list of definitions of terms and illustrations related specifically to the field of [[Automation|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]].

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== A ==
{{term|abbreviated address calling}}{{defn|''{{gli|Calling}}'' that enables a user to employ an ''{{gli|address}}'' having fewer ''{{gli|character|characters}}'' than the full address when initiating a call.{{efn|Networks may allow a user to designate a given number of abbreviated address codes. The allocation of abbreviated address codes to a destination or group of destinations may be changed as required by means of a suitable procedure.}}}}

{{term|absolute coordinates}}{{defn|The absolute distances or angles that specify the position of a point with respect to the datum of a coordinate system.}}

{{term|absolute coordinate}}{{defn|One of the coordinates that identify the position of an ''{{gli|addressable point}}'' with respect to the origin of a specified coordinate system.}}

{{term|[[Approximation error|absolute error]]}}{{defn|The algebraic ''result'' of subtracting a true, specified or theoretically correct value from the computed, observed, measured or achieved value.}}

{{term|absolute instruction}}{{defn|A ''display command'' using ''{{gli|absolute coordinate|absolute coordinates}}''.}}

{{term|absolute position sensor}}{{defn|A ''{{gli|sensor}}'' that gives directly the coordinate position of an element of a machine.}}

{{term|absolute programming}}{{defn|Programming using ''{{gli|word|words}}'' indicating ''absolute dimensions'' ({{gli|absolute coordinate|absolute coordinates}}).}}

{{term|absolute vector}}{{defn|A vector whose start and end points are specified in ''{{gli|absolute coordinate|absolute coordinates}}''.}}

{{term|[[acceleration]]}}{{defn|Rate of change of the ''{{gli|velocity}}'' at the point under consideration per ''[[unit of time]]''.}}

{{term|[[Accuracy and precision|accuracy]]}}{{defn|A qualitative assessment of freedom from ''{{gli|error}}'' or of the degree of conformity to a desired value, a high assessment corresponding to a small error.}}

{{term|active accommodation}}{{defn|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).}}

{{term|active devices}}{{defn|Devices which require a power supply independent of the value of input signals.}}

{{term|active output}}{{defn|Output the power of which in all possible states of the device is derived from supply power.}}

{{term|actual conditions}}{{defn|Conditions observed during operation.}}

{{term|actuator}}{{defn|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).}}

{{term|[[adaptive control]]}}{{defn|A control scheme that adjusts the control system parameters from conditions detected during the process.}}

{{term|address (in numerical control)}}{{defn|A ''{{gli|character}}'', or group of characters, at the beginning of a ''{{gli|word}}'', that identifies the data following in the ''word''.}}

{{term|address block format}}{{defn|A ''{{gli|block format}}'' in which each ''{{gli|word}}'' contains an ''address''.}}

{{term|address tabulation block format}}{{defn|A ''{{gli|tabulation block format}}'' in which each ''{{gli|word}}'' contains an ''address''.}}

{{term|addressable point}}{{defn|Any point of a device that can be addressed.}}

{{term|aiming field}}{{defn|On a ''{{gli|display surface}}'', 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.}}

{{term|alignment function character}}{{defn|The ''{{gli|character}}'' ":" used as the ''{{gli|address}}'' character for a sequence number word that indicates a ''{{gli|block}}'' in a ''{{gli|control tape}}'' after which are recorded the ''{{gli|data}}'' necessary for machining to be commenced or recommenced.}}

{{term|alignment pose}}{{defn|A specified ''{{gli|pose}}'' of the ''{{gli|mechanical interface coordinate system}}'' in relation to the ''{{gli|base coordinate system}}''.}}

{{term|ambient temperature}}{{defn|Temperature of the environment in which the apparatus is working.}}

{{term|amplification}}{{defn|Ratio between the output signal variations and the control signal variations (for analogue devices only).}}

{{term|[[amplifier]]}}{{defn|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.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Gibilisco|first=Stan|url=https://archive.org/embed/DictionaryOfElectronics|title=The Illustrated Dictionary Of Electronics|publisher=[[McGraw-Hill]]|year=2016|isbn=978-0-07-137236-7|edition=8th|location=|page=25}}</ref>{{efn|Energy may be fluid power as well as electric energy.}}}}

{{term|analog data}}{{defn|''{{gli|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.}}

{{term|analog input channel amplifier}}{{defn|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''.}}

{{term|analog input channel (in process control)}}{{defn|The ''{{gli|analog data}}'' path between the connector and the ''analog-to-digital converter'' in the ''analog input subsystem''.{{efn|This path may include a filter, an analog signal multiplexer, and one or more amplifiers.}}}}

{{term|analog output channel amplifier}}{{defn|An amplifier attached to one or more ''analog output''  channels, that adapts the output ''{{gli|signal}}'' range of the ''digital-to-analog converter'' to the signal level necessary to control the ''{{gli|technical process}}''.{{efn|If there is a common digital-to-analog converter in the subsystem, the amplifier performs the function of a sample-and-hold device.}}}}

{{term|analog representation}}{{defn|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.}}

{{term|analogue anplifier}}{{defn|''{{gli|Amplifier}}'' the output of which is continuously variable with the applied control signal.}}

{{term|anisochronous transmission}}{{defn|A ''{{gli|data transmission}}'' 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.{{efn|In data transmission the group is a ''{{gli|block}}'' or a ''{{gli|character}}''.}}}}

{{term|answering}}{{defn|The process of responding to a calling station to complete the establishment of a ''{{gli|connection}}'' between ''{{gli|data stations}}''.}}

{{term|anti-vibration mounting}}{{defn|Device for insulating machine vibrations from the structure upon which it is mounted.}}

{{term|argument (in numerical control)}}{{defn|''{{gli|Data}}'' which qualifies a ''{{gli|command}}''.}}

{{term|arm (primary axes)}}{{defn|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''.}}

{{term|articulated structure}}{{defn|Set of links and joints which constitutes the ''arm'' and the ''wrist''.}}

{{term|asynchronous transmission}}{{defn|''{{gli|Data transmission}}'' in which the time of occurrence of the start of each ''{{gli|character}}'', or ''{{gli|block}}'' 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.}}

{{term|attained pose}}{{defn|The pose achieved by the robot in response to the ''command pose''.}}

{{term|automatic}}{{defn|Pertaining to a ''{{gli|process}}'' or device that, under specified conditions, functions without human intervention.}}

{{term|automatic answering}}{{defn|''{{gli|Answering}}'' in which the called ''[[data terminal equipment]]'' (DTE) automatically responds to the calling ''{{gli|signal}}''.{{efn|The call may be established whether or not the called DTE is attended.}}}}

{{term|automatic calling (in a data network)}}{{defn|''{{gli|Calling}}'' in which the elements of the ''{{gli|selection signal}}'' are entered into the ''{{gli|data network}}'' contiguously at the full ''data signaling rate''.{{efn|The selection signal is generated by the ''data terminal equipment''. A limit may be imposed by the design criteria of the network to prevent more than a permitted number of unsuccessful call attempts to the same ''{{gli|address}}'' within a specified period of time.}}}}

{{term|[[Automation|automatic control]]}}{{defn|Control method which operates without human intervention.}}

{{term|automatic cycle}}{{defn|''{{gli|Cycle}}'' of operations which, once started, repeats indefinitely until stopped.}}

{{term|automatic mode}}{{defn|The ''{{gli|operating mode}}'' in which the robot control system can operate in accordance with the ''{{gli|task program}}''.}}

{{term|autcmatic mode of operation}}{{defn|The mode of operation of a ''numerically controlled'' machine in which it operates in accordance with the control ''{{gli|data}}'' until stopped by the ''program'' or the operator.}}

{{term|automation}}{{defn|The implementation of ''processes'' by ''automatic'' means.}}

{{term|axis}}{{defn|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.{{efn|Axis is also used to describe a mechanism of a robot.}}|no=1}}{{defn|A direction in which a part of a machine can move in a linear or rotary mode.|no=2}}

== See also ==
* [[Glossary of engineering]]
* [[Glossary of power electronics]]
* [[Glossary of civil engineering]]
* [[Glossary of mechanical engineering]]
* [[Glossary of structural engineering]]

== Notes ==
{{notelist}}

== References ==
<references group="lower-alpha" />
<references />

=== Attribution ===
{{Source-attribution|{{cite book |title=IS 15571: Industrial automation glossary |year=2005 |publisher=New Delhi, [[Bureau of Indian Standards]]}}}}

== External links ==

=== Websites ===

* [https://www.ia.omron.com/support/glossary/ Glossary of Industrial Automation]
* [https://conceptsystemsinc.com/automation-glossary-of-terms/ Automation Glossary of terms]
* [https://global.abb/group/en/media/resources/glossary Glossary of technical terms commonly used by ABB]
* [https://www.thinkautomation.com/eli5/an-automation-glossary/ An automation glossary]
* [https://www.galco.com/comp/glossary.htm Glossary - Industrial Electronic/Electrical Terms]
* [https://www.inviarobotics.com/blog/robotics-glossary-guide-terms-and-technologies/ Robotics Glossary: a Guide to Terms and Technologies]

=== PDFs ===

* [https://industrialtext.com/Support/PLC_Glossary.pdf.PDF Glossary of Terms used in Programmable Controller-based Systems]
* [https://www.emerson.com/documents/automation/manuals-guides-glossary-of-terms-for-process-control-ras-en-133654.pdf Glossary of Terms for Process Control]
* [https://cdn.aigroup.com.au/Policy/2018/Industry4-0/Glossary.pdf INDUSTRY 4.0: Glossary of terms/buzzwords/jargon]

{{Engineering fields}}{{Glossaries of science and engineering}}

[[Category:Electrical engineering]]
[[Category:Electronic engineering]]
[[Category:Glossaries of science|Industrial automation]]
[[Category:Wikipedia glossaries|Industrial automation]]
[[Category:Industrial automation]]
[[Category:Wikipedia glossaries using description lists]]