Scope and Topics

...from ideas to low cost/cost effective automation...

In the sequence of the successful symposia on "Low Cost Automation" (1986-2007) this symposium is devoted to "Cost-Oriented Automation" or "Affordable Automation Systems" considering to methods how to reduce cost of automation systems. Cost savings do not concern only a usage of low cost control systems but it can be achieved in a number of ways on the path from good ideas to successful realization, namely:

• by designing control systems with higher flexibility, scalability and openness;
• by sophisticated methods for faster and cheaper designing industrial controllers or their programs;
• by methods for testing and verification to speed up necessary commissioning;
• by better education and training of maintenance groups -  the cost of maintaining obsolete equipment plays quite significant role;
• by improving operating and maintenance methods;
• by recycling systems which were put out of operation.

Main Topics

• Architecture and software tools for enterprise integration and networking
• Human collaboration with automation systems
• Sensor and data fusion
• Cost reduction with e-maintenance systems
• Low cost micro-electro-mechanical systems (MEMS)
• SME-oriented automation and decision support systems
• Low cost automation case studies
• Cheaper education and training of maintenance groups and control engineers
• Testing and verification of control programs
• Advances in automation education
• Integration technologies applied to product development and manufacturing
• Efficient use of intelligent machinery and automation systems
• e-technologies in networked product development and manufacturing
• ...and all other topics related to low cost/cost effective automation.