Automation facts for kids

Many large places, like this power station, need very little human help to run.

A cartoon from the 1936 Summer Olympics imagined the year 2000. It shows how television could let people watch events from home, while radio would send their cheers to loudspeakers in the stadium.

Automation is when a device or machine is changed so it can do its job without needing people to control it all the time. Think of it like a machine learning to do things by itself! Often, this means adding a special system that takes charge of the machine's actions. For example, a centrifugal governor was an early device that helped control the speed of a steam engine.

What is Automation?

Automation means that machines or systems can work on their own, or with very little help from humans. Instead of someone always pushing buttons or turning levers, the machine uses its own controls to complete tasks. This makes processes smoother and often faster.

How Does Automation Work?

Machines that are automated usually have special sensors and computer programs. These allow them to:

• Sense: Gather information about what's happening around them.
• Think: Use that information to make decisions based on their programming.
• Act: Perform the necessary actions to complete the task.

For example, a robot arm in a factory might sense a part, decide how to pick it up, and then place it exactly where it needs to go.

Why is Automation Important?

Automation brings many good things to how we make products and do work.

Better Quality and Consistency

When machines do the work, the results are often much more even and accurate. This means products have better quality and are more uniform. Imagine a machine making thousands of cookies – they would all look and taste very similar!

Safer and Easier Work

Many jobs involve tasks that are boring, involve lifting heavy things, or can even be dangerous for people. Automation helps by letting machines do these risky or repetitive jobs. This keeps humans safer and frees them up to do more interesting or creative work.

Faster Production

Automated systems can often work much faster than humans, and they don't get tired. This means more products can be made in less time, which can help companies produce things more efficiently.

Examples of Automation Around Us

Automation is all around us, even if we don't always notice it!

• Factories: Robots build cars, pack food, and assemble electronics.
• Homes: Smart thermostats adjust the temperature, and robotic vacuum cleaners clean floors.
• Transportation: Self-driving cars and automated trains are becoming more common.
• Online: Chatbots on websites answer questions, and online shopping systems process orders automatically.

Images for kids

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  Ctesibius's clepsydra (3rd century BC) was an early example of a self-regulating device.

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  Steam engines helped push automation because they needed ways to control their speed and power.

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  A flyball governor is an early example of a feedback control system. If the engine sped up, the weights would move out, closing a valve to slow it down.

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  Automated machines help make medicines.

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  An automated online assistant on a website can help people find information.

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  KUKA industrial robots are used in bakeries to stack bread.

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  Automated laboratory instruments can do tests quickly and accurately.

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  Automated milling machines can precisely shape materials.

See also

In Spanish: Automatización para niños