Instrumentation and control engineering: Difference between revisions

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'''Instrumentation and control engineering''' ICE) is a [[List of engineering branches|branch of]] [[engineering]] that studies the measurement and control of [[process variable]]s, and the design and implementation of [[system]]s that incorporate them. Process variables include [[pressure]], [[temperature]], [[humidity]], [[Fluid dynamics|flow]], [[pH]], [[force]] and [[speed]].

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ICE combines two branches of engineering. [[Instrumentation#Instrumentation engineering|Instrumentation engineering]] is the science of the measurement and control of process variables within a production or manufacturing area.<ref>[http://www.nait.ca/program_home_78211.htm "Instrumentation "], ''The Northern Alberta Institute of Technology.'', Retrieved 17 October 2012.</ref> Meanwhile, [[control engineering]], also called control systems engineering, is the engineering discipline that applies [[control theory]] to design systems with desired behaviors.

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'''Instrumentation and control engineering''' is a [[List of engineering branches|branch of]] [[engineering]] that studies the measurement and control of [[process variable]]s, and the implementation of such control to design [[system]]s. It combines two branches of engineering. [[Instrumentation#Instrumentation engineering|Instrumentation engineering]] is the science of the measurement and control of the [[process variable]]s within a production or manufacturing area.<ref>[http://www.nait.ca/program_home_78211.htm "Instrumentation "], ''The Northern Alberta Institute of Technology.'', Retrieved 17 October 2012.</ref> Process variables include [[pressure]], [[temperature]], [[humidity]], [[Fluid dynamics|flow]], [[pH]], [[force]], and [[speed]]. Meanwhile, [[control engineering]], also called control systems engineering, is the engineering discipline that applies [[control theory]] to design systems with desired behaviors. Control engineers are responsible for the research, design, and development of control devices and systems, typically in manufacturing facilities and [[Oil production plant|process plants]]. Control methods employ sensors to measure the output variable of the device being controlled and provide feedback to the controller so that it can make corrections toward desired performance. When a device is designed to perform without the need of human inputs for correction, such as cruise control for regulating a car's speed, it is called automatic control. Control systems engineering activities are multi-disciplinary in nature. They focus on the implementation of control systems, mainly derived by mathematical modeling of systems of a diverse range. Because instrumentation and control play a significant role in gathering information from a system and changing its [[parameter]]s, they are a key part of [[control loop]]s.

Control engineers are responsible for the research, design, and development of control devices and systems, typically in manufacturing facilities and [[Oil production plant|process plants]]. Control methods employ sensors to measure the output variable of the device and provide feedback to the controller so that it can make corrections toward desired performance. Automatic control manages a device without the need of human inputs for correction, such as cruise control for regulating a car's speed.

Control systems engineering activities are multi-disciplinary in nature. They focus on the implementation of control systems, mainly derived by mathematical modeling. Because instrumentation and control play a significant role in gathering information from a system and changing its [[parameter]]s, they are a key part of [[control loop]]s.

== As profession ==

Instrumentation and control engineering can be a specialization of [[engineer]]s. High demand for suchengineering professionals is found in fields associated with [[process automation]], where instruments created by them can automate work processes and reduce the required amount of labor. Areas of expertise of an instrumentation and control engineerSpecializations include [[Industrial engineering|industrial]] [[instrumentation]], [[system dynamics]], [[process control]], and [[control system]]s. Additionally, technological knowledge, particularly in computer systems, is greatly beneficialessential to the job of an instrumentation and control engineer; important technology-related topics include [[human–computer interaction]], [[programmable logic controller]]s, and the application [[SCADA]]. The tasks of an instrumentation and control engineer center around designing, developing, maintaining, and managing control systems.<ref>[http://electronicsforu.com/resources/instrumentation-control-engineering-perfectionists "Instrumentation and Control Engineering is for Perfectionists"], ''Diksha P Gupta''</ref>

The goals of the work of an instrumentation and control engineer are to maximize:

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* Safety

* Continuity

== Future developments ==

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As an inter-disciplinary branch of engineering, future developments in instrumentation and control engineering draw from discoveries and inventions from many sources. Engineers in the field are developing products like intelligent sensors, smart [[transducer]]s, and [[microelectromechanical systems]]. [[Bluetooth]] is a technology that has already been developed in part due to instrumentation and control engineering. Bhujanga Rao, Professor of Instrumentation Engineering at [[Andhra University]], states that as the industrial demand for instrumentation and control engineering grows, departments specializing in instrumentation and control engineering will be included in almost every company in the [[process industry]] or [[manufacturing]] industry. He also says that "automation is the core job of instrumentation and control engineers. Hence, the demand for instrumentation will always be there."<ref>[http://www.thehindu.com/features/education/instrumentation-engineering-in-demand/article3320296.ece "Instrumentation engineering in demand"], ''The Hindu'', April 16, 2012</ref>

== As academic discipline ==

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Many universities teach instrumentation and control engineering as an academic discipline at the [[graduate school|graduate]] and [[postgraduate]] levels.

== Future developments ==

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As an inter-disciplinary branch of engineering, future developments in instrumentation and control engineering draw from discoveries and inventions from many sources. Engineers in the field are developing products like intelligent sensors, smart [[transducer]]s, and [[microelectromechanical systems]]. [[Bluetooth]] is a technology that has already been developed in part due to instrumentation and control engineering. Bhujanga Rao, Professor of Instrumentation Engineering at [[Andhra University]], states that as the industrial demand for instrumentation and control engineering grows, departments specializing in instrumentation and control engineering will be included in almost every company in the [[process industry]] or [[manufacturing]] industry. He also says that "automation is the core job of instrumentation and control engineers. Hence, the demand for instrumentation will always be there."<ref>[http://www.thehindu.com/features/education/instrumentation-engineering-in-demand/article3320296.ece "Instrumentation engineering in demand"], ''The Hindu'', April 16, 2012</ref>

==See also==