工(gong)(gong)業(ye)(ye)(ye)自(zi)(zi)動(dong)(dong)(dong)(dong)(dong)(dong)化(hua)(hua)(hua)（Automation）是(shi)以(yi)(yi)機(ji)械(xie)設(she)備、系統或過(guo)程(cheng)（生(sheng)(sheng)產(chan)(chan)、管理(li)過(guo)程(cheng)）在無人(ren)(ren)或較少人(ren)(ren)的(de)(de)參于下，依照人(ren)(ren)的(de)(de)需求，通過(guo)自(zi)(zi)動(dong)(dong)(dong)(dong)(dong)(dong)檢(jian)測、信息處理(li)、分析判斷、操縱(zong)控制(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)，完成預期的(de)(de)目標(biao)的(de)(de)過(guo)程(cheng)。自(zi)(zi)動(dong)(dong)(dong)(dong)(dong)(dong)化(hua)(hua)(hua)技術(shu)廣泛用(yong)于工(gong)(gong)業(ye)(ye)(ye)、農(nong)(nong)業(ye)(ye)(ye)、軍(jun)事、科學研究、交通運輸、商(shang)業(ye)(ye)(ye)、醫(yi) 療、服務和(he)(he)家(jia)庭等方(fang)面。選用(yong)自(zi)(zi)動(dong)(dong)(dong)(dong)(dong)(dong)化(hua)(hua)(hua)技術(shu)不單能夠(gou) 把人(ren)(ren)從繁(fan)重的(de)(de)體力(li)勞(lao)動(dong)(dong)(dong)(dong)(dong)(dong)、部(bu)分腦力(li)勞(lao)動(dong)(dong)(dong)(dong)(dong)(dong)以(yi)(yi)及惡(e)劣、危險(xian)的(de)(de)工(gong)(gong)作環境中(zhong)解放出來(lai)，并且(qie)能拓(tuo)展人(ren)(ren)的(de)(de)器 官功能，大地提(ti)高勞(lao)動(dong)(dong)(dong)(dong)(dong)(dong)生(sheng)(sheng)產(chan)(chan)率，增強人(ren)(ren)們認識世(shi) 界級(ji)和(he)(he)改造(zao)(zao)世(shi) 界級(ji)的(de)(de)水平。所以(yi)(yi)，工(gong)(gong)業(ye)(ye)(ye)自(zi)(zi)動(dong)(dong)(dong)(dong)(dong)(dong)化(hua)(hua)(hua)是(shi)工(gong)(gong)業(ye)(ye)(ye)、農(nong)(nong)業(ye)(ye)(ye)、國防(fang)和(he)(he)科學技術(shu)現(xian)代(dai)化(hua)(hua)(hua)的(de)(de)重要條件和(he)(he)顯著標(biao)志。早期的(de)(de)機(ji)械(xie)制(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)造(zao)(zao)自(zi)(zi)動(dong)(dong)(dong)(dong)(dong)(dong)化(hua)(hua)(hua)是(shi)選用(yong)機(ji)械(xie)或電氣部(bu)件的(de)(de)單機(ji)自(zi)(zi)動(dong)(dong)(dong)(dong)(dong)(dong)化(hua)(hua)(hua)或者簡單的(de)(de)自(zi)(zi)動(dong)(dong)(dong)(dong)(dong)(dong)生(sheng)(sheng)產(chan)(chan)線。二十世(shi)紀六十年代(dai)以(yi)(yi)后，因為(wei)電子計(ji)(ji)(ji)算機(ji)的(de)(de)應(ying)用(yong)，出現(xian)了(le)數控機(ji)床(chuang)、加(jia)工(gong)(gong)中(zhong) 心、機(ji)器人(ren)(ren)、計(ji)(ji)(ji)算機(ji)輔助(zhu)設(she)計(ji)(ji)(ji)、計(ji)(ji)(ji)算機(ji)輔助(zhu)制(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)造(zao)(zao)、自(zi)(zi)動(dong)(dong)(dong)(dong)(dong)(dong)化(hua)(hua)(hua)倉(cang)庫等。研制(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)出適(shi)應(ying)多品種、小批量生(sheng)(sheng)產(chan)(chan)型式(shi)的(de)(de)柔性制(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)造(zao)(zao)系統（FMS）。以(yi)(yi)柔性制(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)造(zao)(zao)系統為(wei)基礎的(de)(de)自(zi)(zi)動(dong)(dong)(dong)(dong)(dong)(dong)化(hua)(hua)(hua)車間(jian)，加(jia)上信息管理(li)、生(sheng)(sheng)產(chan)(chan)管理(li)自(zi)(zi)動(dong)(dong)(dong)(dong)(dong)(dong)化(hua)(hua)(hua)，出現(xian)了(le)選用(yong)計(ji)(ji)(ji)算機(ji)集成制(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)造(zao)(zao)系統（CIMS）的(de)(de)工(gong)(gong)廠(chang)工(gong)(gong)業(ye)(ye)(ye)自(zi)(zi)動(dong)(dong)(dong)(dong)(dong)(dong)化(hua)(hua)(hua)。
