Industrial Automation and Control: PLCs, Sensors, and SCADA

Modern manufacturing and processing plants rely heavily on automated systems to ensure safety, efficiency, and high-quality production. Understanding how complex control loops and hardware components interact is the first step toward a career in industrial engineering and automation. This text-only course guides you from the fundamental physical principles of automation to the practical logic behind industrial control systems. You will gain a clear, conceptual understanding of how sensors, actuators, and controllers work together to automate real-world processes. What you'll learn: - Understand the foundational concepts of open-loop and closed-loop feedback control systems. - Identify and select appropriate industrial sensors and actuators for various process applications. - Learn the core operating principles of Programmable Logic Controllers (PLCs) and basic ladder logic. - Explore SCADA systems and industrial communication protocols for data acquisition and monitoring. - Apply feedback control concepts, including basic PID controller tuning, to maintain process stability. - Discover modern Industrial IoT (IIoT) concepts and secure communication standards like OPC UA. Starting with key terminology and physical concepts, the course moves systematically through hardware components, controller programming logic, and system integration. You will study practical scenarios and work through written design exercises to reinforce your learning. This course is designed for beginners, aspiring automation technicians, and engineering students looking for a solid foundation in industrial control systems with no prior automation experience required. Start reading today to build your foundational knowledge of modern industrial automation.