Use of local area networks within manufacturing systems

Proposals have recently been made within the computer industry to standardize local area computer networking hardware and, although such standards are primarily aimed at the office automation market, they will undoubtedly find many applications in distributed industrial control where a requirement for high speed reliable standardized digital communications also exists. A simple manufacturing cell will be described which demonstrates the advantage of distributed control by using an integrated communications network employing low cost twin axial cable. The individual cell element control systems are supervised by a single computer station providing both control and management information. It will also be shown how such techniques can be applied within industrial manufacturing systems by considering the use of computer networks within a process plant and for the integration of industrial robot systems.