Balancing encyclopedic scope with useful detail, this convenient reference supplies the most essential concepts and methods necessary to capitalize on the innovations of industrial automation, including mathematical fundamentals, ergonomics, industrial robotics, government safety regulations, and economic analyses. Incorporates computer science applications to industrial, mechanical, and electrical engineering-providing valuable insights and answers for both technical and managerial problems! Written by over 50 industry and university experts from the United States, Canada, Germany, Hong Kong, India, Japan, Spain, the United Kingdom, and New Zealand, the Handbook of Industrial Automation reviews algebraic, probabilistic, and related numerical methods clarifies the basics of automated control systems, digital signal processing, and sample-data systems examines current and future manufacturing applications such as intelligent systems, linear and dynamic programming, and industrial robots investigates implementation of safety procedures considers the dynamics of human interaction with automated tools discusses financial forecasting and cost estimation techniques and more! Including over 2700 literature citations, equations, drawings, photographs, and tables, and designed to be both time and cost effective, the Handbook of Industrial Automation is the essential one-stop resource for industrial, manufacturing, mechanical, nuclear, electrical and electronics, optical, control, computer, consulting, and plant engineers; and upper-level undergraduate, graduate, and continuing-education students in these disciplines.