REPORT WRITING

ENGL 250-008

SHORT INFORMAL REPORT

Submitted by:
to:
Ankur Ajmani (300861761)
Simmons

Submitted
John

CURRENT TRENDS IN INDUSTRIAL AUTOMATION REPORT

To
: John Simmons
From
: Ankur Ajmani
Date
: March 10, 2016
Subject
: TRENDS IN THE PROGRAMMABLE LOGIC CONTROLLER
TECHNOLOGY

New technologies are added or being added to the Programmable Logic Controllers and thereby
increasing their capabilities and influence in the industrial automation process. Initially PLCs are started
out as a replacement for banks of relays. As of any other technologies several and complicated math
functions were added. Today they play a vital role in vast majority of automation processes and special
machines. Now PLCs are available with small cases and faster CPUs with networking and internet
technologies. In a nutshell, PLC can be described as a small industrialized computer that is capable for
withstanding any hard industrial environment such as high temperature, pressure. When comes to its core,
PLCs can be best described as digital and analogue sensors and switches which are the mode of inputs to
the PLC and the CPU which reads its control program and make mathematical calculations. And the
output would be the control of various hardware such as servo motors, lights, relays and valves in a time
of micro seconds.
Automation always kindled my interest from my college days. During my course of Mechanical
Engineering, I recognized that the combination of the principles of mechanical engineering, electronics
and computer technology has a significant role in the current world. I have experienced the practical
exposure to the world of automation during my third year of engineering education through the
Mechatronics lab. This has further accelerated my interests in the field of automation technology where
mechanical, electrical and computer technologies combine to make useful products. Thus i decided to do
my post-graduation in the field of Electromechanical engineering technology in Centennial College of
applied arts and Technology and now I have hand on experience in PLC from my lab works which is
certainly a valuable asset to my career. Concepts of PLC are included in my second semester and it gives
us detailed information about the programming of different PLCs. All PLCs make use similar ladder logic
principles but use different software to feed the PLCs depending on the manufacture of it.
PLCs were very quick in controlling the automated operations. But they were lagging in sharing of data
between the PLCs. But it was possible for PLCs to transfer information with machine operator interfaces
(HMI) and Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition System (SCADA) software in the factory. Data
exchange to the management or business level of the company such as information services, scheduling,
accounting and analyzing system from the PLCs has to be collected and converted. But in the addition of
new technologies to the current PLC systems has overcome these difficulties. Now, most PLCs
communication networks are of best speed available. Even though there are some problems to be
overcome. Overall PLCs are getting faster, cheaper and more powerful. Because of its vast applicability
in various fields which are currently dominated by personals computers. These PLCs translate critical
data into useful information quickly and cheaply directly into the business level of the company. The
other notable factor of the brand new PLCs is they can bring automation projects are Web servers, FTP

servers. One of the most exciting and useful feature which is embedded to the PLC system which is just
showed up in the market is internal relational database. In other words this internal database allows
to access crucial data to be accessed in program scan instead of waiting for the external memory base to
send the data through communication port for performing another operation.
PLCs are undividable factor of any industry which is depended on the automation process. So
understanding and adapting the new trends of it will certainly enhance the job prospects. In other words
PLCs play a vital role in the process of automation. The field of industrial automation is incomplete
without this component. I am confident enough to say that there will not be any industry which makes use
of these PLCs in the near future.
The formal report will be submitted on March 10, 2016. If you have any questions, contact me at
ankurajmani1992@gmail.com

REFERENCES:
The PLC: New Technology, Greater Data Sharing. (n.d.). Retrieved February 04, 2016, from
http://www.automation.com/library/articles-white-papers/programmable-control-plc-pac/the-plc-newtechnology-greater-data-sharing
Lamb, F. (n.d.). Industrial automation: Hands-on (6th ed., Vol. 2). Toronto.