工業自動化是機器設備或生產過程(cheng)在(zai)不需要人工直接干預(yu)的情況(kuang)下(xia)，按(an)預(yu)期的目(mu)標(biao)實現測量，操(cao)縱等信(xin)息(xi)處理和過程(cheng)控(kong)制的統稱。目(mu)前已(yi)廣泛運用于機械制造，電力，建筑，交通(tong)運輸，信(xin)息(xi)技術(shu)等領域，成為提高勞(lao)動生產率的主(zhu)要手段。

工(gong)業自(zi)(zi)動(dong)化(hua)，按其發展階段(duan)可分為：。（1）半自(zi)(zi)動(dong)化(hua)即部(bu)分采用自(zi)(zi)動(dong)控制(zhi)和自(zi)(zi)動(dong)裝置，而另(ling)一部(bu)分則由人工(gong)操(cao)作機(ji)器進行生(sheng)(sheng)產(chan)（2）全自(zi)(zi)動(dong)化(hua)指生(sheng)(sheng)產(chan)過程中全部(bu)工(gong)序，包括上料，下料，裝卸(xie)等(deng)，都不需要(yao)人直接進行生(sheng)(sheng)產(chan)操(cao)作，而由機(ji)器連續地(di)，重(zhong)復地(di)自(zi)(zi)動(dong)生(sheng)(sheng)產(chan)出(chu)一個或一批產(chan)品。

實(shi)現(xian)(xian)工(gong)(gong)(gong)業(ye)(ye)(ye)(ye)自動(dong)(dong)化(hua)(hua)(hua)技(ji)(ji)術(shu)被稱之為(wei)(wei)工(gong)(gong)(gong)業(ye)(ye)(ye)(ye)自動(dong)(dong)化(hua)(hua)(hua)技(ji)(ji)術(shu)。工(gong)(gong)(gong)業(ye)(ye)(ye)(ye)自動(dong)(dong)化(hua)(hua)(hua)技(ji)(ji)術(shu)是(shi)一種運用控制(zhi)(zhi)理論，儀(yi)器(qi)儀(yi)表，計算機和(he)(he)其他信息技(ji)(ji)術(shu)，對工(gong)(gong)(gong)業(ye)(ye)(ye)(ye)生產過程實(shi)現(xian)(xian)檢測，控制(zhi)(zhi)，優化(hua)(hua)(hua)，調度(du)，管理和(he)(he)決策，達到增加產量，提高(gao)質量，降低消耗，確保安(an)全等(deng)目的的綜合性高(gao)技(ji)(ji)術(shu)，包(bao)括工(gong)(gong)(gong)業(ye)(ye)(ye)(ye)自動(dong)(dong)化(hua)(hua)(hua)軟件，硬件和(he)(he)系統三大部(bu)分(fen)。工(gong)(gong)(gong)業(ye)(ye)(ye)(ye)自動(dong)(dong)化(hua)(hua)(hua)技(ji)(ji)術(shu)作為(wei)(wei)20世紀現(xian)(xian)代制(zhi)(zhi)造領域中最重(zhong)要的技(ji)(ji)術(shu)之一，主要解決生產效率與一致性問題。無論高(gao)速大批量制(zhi)(zhi)造企(qi)業(ye)(ye)(ye)(ye)還是(shi)追求靈活(huo)，柔性和(he)(he)定制(zhi)(zhi)化(hua)(hua)(hua)企(qi)業(ye)(ye)(ye)(ye)，都必須(xu)依靠(kao)自動(dong)(dong)化(hua)(hua)(hua)技(ji)(ji)術(shu)的應(ying)用。

而作(zuo)為自(zi)動(dong)(dong)化(hua)(hua)(hua)技術的(de)結晶 - 工(gong)業(ye)(ye)自(zi)動(dong)(dong)化(hua)(hua)(hua)設(she)備，實現(xian)了在無人(ren)干預的(de)情況下(xia)，根據已(yi)經設(she)定的(de)指令或者(zhe)程(cheng)(cheng)序，自(zi)動(dong)(dong)完成(cheng)工(gong)作(zuo)流程(cheng)(cheng)的(de)任務同時工(gong)業(ye)(ye)自(zi)動(dong)(dong)化(hua)(hua)(hua)設(she)備具有高度的(de)自(zi)動(dong)(dong)化(hua)(hua)(hua)程(cheng)(cheng)序，無需人(ren)工(gong)操(cao)作(zuo);工(gong)作(zuo)效(xiao)率高，提高企(qi)業(ye)(ye)生(sheng)產(chan)(chan)(chan)效(xiao)率;整個工(gong)藝(yi)的(de)生(sheng)產(chan)(chan)(chan)流程(cheng)(cheng)穩定，提高產(chan)(chan)(chan)品(pin)的(de)一致性;適(shi)合大(da)批量生(sheng)產(chan)(chan)(chan)，降低了企(qi)業(ye)(ye)生(sheng)產(chan)(chan)(chan)成(cheng)本。

隨著工業4.0和(he)中國制造2025的(de)提出和(he)推進(jin)，工業自(zi)動化竟會被(bei)運用到更廣泛的(de)領域(yu)！