I. Divide the text into logical parts and entitle each part.

II. Answer the questions:

1. What are the three basic building blocks of automation?

2. What does any automated system require?

3. What is the most commonly used power in today’s automated systems?

4. What are the sources of electrical power?

5. What other types of power can electrical power be converted into?

6. In what devices can electrical energy be stored?

7. What two types of actions can be performed by automatic systems?

8. How can you characterize the action of processing?

9. Give some examples of processing operations.

10. Characterize the action of transfer and positioning.

11. In what systems is it performed?

12. How is it realized?

III. Render the text into English:

Автоматизированная система

Любая автоматизированная система имеет три основных элемента: источник энергии, управление с обратной связью, программирование машины (станка). Каждая автоматизированная система требует источника питания. Существуют разные источники питания, но наиболее универсальным источником является электроэнергия. Электроэнергию можно получить из органического топлива; из гидравлической, солнечной и ядерной энергии. В свою очередь, её можно преобразовать в механическую, пневматическую, тепловую и другие виды энергии для выполнения полезной работы. Кроме того, электроэнергия может накапливаться в долговечных батареях.

Действия, выполняемые автоматизированными системами, заключаются в обработке, перемещении и расположении. В автоматизированных коммуникационно-информационных системах данные перемещаются от одного блока обработки к другому, и полученная информация выводится на терминалы.

IV. Do the tasks below:

4. Look through the scheme.

5. Using the scheme put some questions concerning the actions performed by automated systems.

6. Comment on the scheme.

V. Speak on the topics:

1. The three basic building blocks of automation.

2. Electrical power.

3. Processing operation.

4. Transfer and positioning.

VI. Make a short report on the principles and theory of automation.

Text 4 B

Translate the text in written form using a dictionary:

Electric power and machinery

The field of electric power is concerned with the design and operation of systems for generating, transmitting, and distributing electric power. Engineers in this field have brought about several important developments since the late 1970s. One of these is the ability to transmit power at extremely high voltages in both the direct current (DC) and alternating current (AC) modes, reducing power losses proportionately. Another is the real-time control of power generation, transmission, and distribution, using computers to analyze the data fed back from the power system to the central station and thereby optimizing the efficiency of the system while it is in operation.

A significant advance in engineering electric machinery has been the introduction of electronic controls that enable AC motors to run at variable speeds by adjusting the frequency of the current fed into them. DC motors have also been made to run more efficiently this way.

Text 4C

Look through the text and do the tasks below:

Automation today and tomorrow

Our age is often called the age of automation. Automation is considered to be the highest stage in the development of technology. It has made the development of rocket production and nuclear industry possible. Automation has been particularly effective in continuous cycle production and operation of thermal and hydropower plants.

Automation of production processes would be impossible without automatic control – the required machines based on electronic computers. Automation results in higher labour productivity. In other words, it accelerates economic progress. Automation not only makes labour more productive but radically changes its nature. Automatic equipment frees man from a number of difficult and dangerous production processes and helps in making labour intellectual.

Specialists in cybernetics are working on the development of self-learning machines capable of solving problems set by man. These machines can collect various data, analyse them, and perform certain operations as a result of the analysis. They are able to produce qualitatively new information. A good number of these machines are already working in our industry, such as a cybernetic system for the iron and steel industry, an electronic system for geological prospecting¹, a cybernetic designer which designs gas pipelines and automatizes the passing of gas along these pipes, electronic computing techniques which serve as a basis for the development of modern program-controlled machine tools.

In the XXI century complex automation of production will be effected² on a large scale. More and more shops and plants will be fully automated. The introduction of highly efficient automatic control systems will be accelerated. Cybernetics, computers, and control systems will be introduced on a large scale in industry, research, designing, planning, statistics, and management.

Notes:

¹ prospecting – разведка

² to effect – осуществлять

1. Translate the title of the text.

2. Formulate the main idea of the text.

3. Choose the main information from every paragraph.

4. Make up the plan of the text.

5. Write down the annotation of the text in Russian.