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Unit 3

Text study: Automation and Labour.

Additional Text: Automated Production Lines

Grammar: conjunctions

I. Pre-reading Exercises

1. Repeat the words in chorus:

Knowledge, nowadays, scientific, to appear, throughout the world, qualitatively, to discharge, physiological, comprehensively, to lighten, designing, to require.

2. While reading the text you will come across a number of international words. Try to guess what Ukrainian words they remind of you:

Principal, technological, progress, form, production, decade, control, publication, integrate, minimum, communication, radical, machine, function, mechanism, agent, regulation, intellectual, physiological, system, transport, organization, microprocessors.

3. Pay attention to some grammatical points:

1) Automatic control was recognized to be a new, progressive, independent branch of science and engineering. 2) Today one cannot imagine technical progress without automation. 3) Emphasis should be made that automation is not a mere extension of mechanization. 4) All the hydro-power plants in the country have been completely automated. 5) Modern means of automation make it possible to link up in a single complex the whole technological chain. 6) Needless to say, comprehensive automation calls for material inputs and time. 7)We consider the FMS to be the future of the automated factory.

II. Reading

Read the text and be ready to find in the text the answers to the following questions:

·         What is “AUTOMATION”?

·         What are the consequences of automation?

·         What are the possibilities of modern means of automation?

Automation and Labour

It is a matter of common knowledge nowadays that the principal direction of the present-day scientific and technological progress consists in the revolution of mechanized forms of work through the automation of production.

Quite recently, only some decades ago, even the words "automation", "automatic control" seldom appeared on the pages of the press or scientific publications. In the early forties the position radically changed. Soon automatic control was recognized throughout the world to be a new, progressive, independent branch of science and engineering. Today one cannot imagine technical progress without automation.

Automation may be defined as "the accomplishment of a job by an integrated mechanism with a minimum assistance of any kind". In fact, automation is the integration of four independent compounds which have been linked together into a single process. These integral parts of automation are: transfer machining, automatic assembly, communication engineering and control engineering.

Emphasis should be made that automation is not a mere extension of mechanization, but a qualitatively new step in technological development. It brought about radical changes in the technological nature of the relationship between man and machine. In mechanization the function of the direct effect on the object of labour was transferred to the working mechanism. Here, man remained the principal agent of the technological process. He retained the functions of control, regulation, maintaining machines and direct intervention in production process. With the advent of automation these functions were transferred to the mechanical device. The automation of production enables man to operate machines with the help of other machines. Now machines discharge not only production but also intellectual, and in some cases even physiological functions.

Our country has many thousands of comprehensively mechanized and automated enterprises and workshops. The mechanized and automated production lines replace or lighten the work of a tremendous number of workers. All the hydro-power plants in the country have been completely automated. Annually hundreds of automated control systems go into operation at industrial, agricultural, communication, trade and transport enterprises and organizations.

Modern means of automation make it possible to link up in a single complex the whole technological chain: machine designing, equipment and rigging, control of a technological process, control of the whole enterprise. This has been made possible due to the extensive development and mass production of new types of computer technology, from large computers to microprocessors.

Needless to say, comprehensive automation calls for material inputs and time. But the economic effect from the release of "living labour", the intensification of production, the higher quality of output and more flexible technology make up for the inputs, while, on the social plane, it gives opportunities for creative work by both the makers of this technology and its users.

Thus, now the main trend in automation is developing not merely automatic machines but entire technological processes and systems whose functioning excludes the direct involvement of men.

Such automated systems, called flexible manufacturing systems (FMS) are regarded by many experts as being the best way to meet the demands of industry. They consider the FMS to be the future of the automated factory, or at least the minimally manned factory.

The application of FMS requires advanced technical know-how.

Vocabulary Notes

a matter of common knowledge ['nOlIG]загальновідома справа;

to consist inполягати (в чому-небудь)

in the early ['WlI] fortiesна початку сорокових (років);

emphasis ['emfqsIs] should be madeнеобхідно наголосити (підкреслити);

integral ['IntIgrql] part of automation ["Ltq'meISqn]невід'ємна частина автоматизації;

with the advent ['xdvent] of automationз появою автоматизації;

(machines) discharge [dIs'CRG] functions(машини) виконують функції;

comprehensively mechanized ["kOmprI'hensIvlI 'mekqnaIzd] and automated (enterprise) повністю механізоване та автоматизоване (підприємство);

to go into operationпочинати діяти (працювати);

needless to say...зайве казати, не кажучи;

material input — матеріальний внесок (витрати);

flexiblе technology ['fleksqbl tek'nOlqGI] — гнучка технологія;

to make up (for) — компенсувати, надолужувати (упущене);

release [rI'lJs] of "living labour" ['leIbq] вивільнення робочої сили;

flexible manufacturing systems (FMS) гнучкі автоматизовані системи

advanced technical know-how ['nqVhaV]— високий технічний досвід.

Comprehension

1. Tell what sentences are true and what are false.

1). Soon automatic assembly line was recognized throughout the world to be a new, progressive, independent branch of science and engineering. 2). In fact, automation is the integration of two mingled compounds which have been linked together into a single process. 3). Emphasis should be made that automation is a mere extension of mechanization. 4). With the advent of automation these functions were transferred to the mechanical device. 5). Now machines discharge only  physiological functions. 6) The mechanized and automated production lines replace or lighten the work of a tremendous number of workers. 7) Modern means of automation make it possible to link up in a single complex the whole technological chain: machine manufacturing, equipment and rigging, organizing of a technological process, control of the whole production. 8) Thus, now the main trend in automation is developing  merely automatic machines and automated processes and systems whose functioning includes the direct involvement of men. 9. They consider the FMS to be the future of the automated factory, or at least the minimally manned factory.

2. Choose the right answer:

1) When did the words “automation”, “automatic control” appear on the pages of the press or scientific publications?

a) yesterday;

b) last year;

c) some decades ago;

d) in the Middle Ages.

2) Where did man remain the principal agent of the technological process?

a) in automation;

b) in science;

c) in manufacturing;

d) in mechanization.

3) What plants in the country have been completely automated?

a) car-building plants;

b) hydro-power plants;

c) metallurgical plants;

d) ship- building plants.

4) What makes it possible to link up in a single complex the whole technological chain?

a) means of transportation;

b) means of engineering;

c) means of automation;

d) means of communication.

5) What does comprehensive automation call for?

a) intensification of production;

b) technological process;

c) automated processes;

d) material inputs and time.

3. Complete the sentences:

1)The principal direction of the present-day scientific and technological progress consists in… . 2) Automation may be defined as … . 3) The integral parts of automation are … . 4) In mechanization the function of the direct effect on the object of labour was transferred to … . 5)The automation of production enables man to … . 6) The mechanized and automated production lines replace … . 7). Modern means of automation make it possible to link up in a single complex … . 8). Comprehensive automation calls for … . 9). Now the main trend in automation is … . 10). Flexible manufacturing systems (FMS) are regarded by many experts as … .

4. Answer the questions:

1) What is the principal direction of the present-day scientific and technological progress? 2) Can one imagine technical progress today without automation? 3) What is automation? 4) Did the words "automation", "automatic control" appear recently or long ago? 5) What is the difference between mechanization an automation? 6) What are the integral parts of automation? 7) What does modern automation mean? 8) What is the basis of automation? 9) What is the economic effect of automation?

5. Find as quickly as possible and read out the sentences containing the following important information:

  • automatic control;
  • integral parts of automation;
  • industrial application of automation;
  • economic effect of automation.

*6. Try to tell the gist of the text.

 

Word Study

1. Give Ukrainian equivalents of the following.

Nowadays, principal, direction, to consist, mechanized forms of work, some decades ago, throughout the world, branch of science, integration, parts of automation, automatic assembly, extension, qualitatively new step, radical changes, the principal agent, maintaining, mechanical device, to enable, to lighten the work, tremendous, means of automation, output, creative work, demands of industry.

2. Give English equivalents of the following.

Головний напрямок, технологічний прогрес, механізовані форми роботи, рідко, визнавати в усьому світі, незалежна галузь науки, єдиний процес, якісно новий крок, радикальні зміни, об’єкт праці, з появою автоматизації, психологічні функції, підприємство, механізовані та автоматизовані виробничі лінії, полегшувати роботу, щорічно, торгові та транспортні підприємства, засоби автоматизації, системи контролю, обладнання, вимагати, компенсувати витрати, творча робота, вимоги промисловості, застосування гнучких автоматизованих систем.

3. Match the words in A with their synonyms in B:

A                                 B

Principal                      work

Seldom                                    publications

Independent                rarely

Mechanism                 comprehensively

tremendous number    to call for

articles                        main

job                              free

absolutely                   device

to demand                   great amount

4. Fill in the gaps with the words from the box in the appropriate form.

To lighten/automatic assembly/ FM/, automatic control/ to retain/ to demand

1). … is a progressive independent branch of science and engineering. 2). The integral parts of automation are: transfer machining, …, communication engineering and control engineering. 3). The man … the functions of control, regulation, maintaining machines and direct intervention in production process. 4) The mechanized and automated production lines … the work of a tremendous number of workers. 5). The comprehensive automation … material inputs and time. 6). The experts consider the … to be the future of the automated factory.

5. Translate sentences into English using words and word combinations from the Vocabulary Notes.

1). Автоматизація — шлях до інтенсифікації виробництва. 2). У світі здійснюється широка програма автоматизації виробництва в різних галузях промисловості. 3). Сьогодні вже діє на основі ЕОМ багато тисяч автоматизованих і автоматичних систем управління (АСУ). 4). Сучасні умови роботи в промисловості часто роблять неможливим ручне (неавтоматизоване) управління виробничими процесами. 5). АСУ керують різними технологічними процесами на промислових підприємствах, в установах. Вони також виконують завдання економічного забезпечення та контролю виробництва, здійснюють різні вимірювання та дослідження виготовленої продукції. 6). Автоматизація полегшує працю людини, створює умови для її творчості й всебічного гармонійного розвитку.

Grammar in Use

1. Translate the following sentences paying attention to the meaning of the word “since ”:

            Note: since cj     1) оскільки

                                         2)  з того часу як

                      since prep з, після

          since adv   з того часу, тому назад

1. Since the first rocket appeared many changes have taken place in this field of science. 2. The unit of measure for frequency is seconds since time is the only unit of measure. 3. Since the jet engine is a powerful  source of energy, it is widely used for machines  flying at supersonic speed 4. Many other discoveries have been made since radioactivity was discovered. 5. Oxygen has been known since the 18th century. 6. Copper is the metal commonly used as a conductor since it combines high conductivity with comparatively low cost. 6. Since the time of Galileo and Newton, knowledge concerning the universe has increased rapidly. 7. Now we can say what electricity is since modern development gave us the electron theory. 8. Large deposits of molybdenum were discovered in this country in 1934, its commercial development has been rapid since.

2. State parts of speech the words in bold type belong to. Translate the sentences into Ukrainian taking into account different  meanings of the word “provide”:

Note: provide v – забезпечувати, давати

to provide forпередбачати

provided (that) cj – при умові, що; якщо тільки

providing cj - при умові, що; якщо тільки

            1. This investigation provided new methods for creating new synthetic materials. 2. Provided this synthetic fibre is cheap, it will be widely used in the manufacture of many products. 3. When you are separating pure substance from a mixture you must provide for possible mistake. 4. Provided we are given all necessary  instruments we will be able to continue our investigations. 5. Sometimes a graphical representation of data can provide you with a particularly valuable piece of information. 6. This laboratory provided with up-to-date equipment solves many important problems. 7. As an outstanding advantage, polyesters provide a good combination of mechanical and electrical properties at relatively low cost. 8. Provided we use the necessary instruments, the measurements will always be correct.

3. Complete the article. Use but, although or however.

Bill Gates became interested in computers at school although in those days they weren’t very common. When he left school, he went to Harvard University to study law. _____ , he spent most of his time in the computer center. In 1975, he and his friend Paul Allen successfully wrote a software program for the first microcomputer, an Altair, _____ they didn’t even have one. Gates was top of his class at Harvard , ____ he left without finishing degree. Then he and Allen started Microsoft. In 1990s, the US government wanted to break up a Microsoft because they said the company was a monopoly. Gates was able to stop them, _____ . Today Gates is billionaire, _____ he also gives millions dollars for charity.

Additional Text

(for individual work)

Read and translate the text.

Automated Production Lines

An automated production line consists of a series of workstations connected by a transfer system to move parts between the stations. This is an example of fixed automation, since these lines are set up for long production runs, making large number of product units and running for several years between changeovers. Each station is designed to perform a specific processing operation, so that the part or product is constructed stepwise as it progresses along the line. A raw work part enters at one end of the line, proceeds through each workstation and appears at the other end as a completed product. In the normal operation of the line, there is a work part being processed at each station, so that many parts are being processed simultaneously and a finished part is produced with each cycle of the line. The various operations, part transfers, and other activities taking place on an automated transfer line must all be sequenced and coordinated properly for the line to operate efficiently.

Modern automated lines are controlled by programmable logic controllers, which are special computers that can perform timing and sequencing functions required to operate such equipment. Automated production lines are utilized in many industries, mostly automobile, where they are used for processes such as machining and pressworking.

Machining is a manufacturing process in which metal is removed by a cutting or shaping tool, so that the remaining work part is the desired shape. Machinery and motor components are usually made by this process. In many cases, multiple operations are required to completely shape the part. If the part is mass-produced, an automated transfer line is often the most economical method of production. Many separate operations are divided among the workstations.

Pressworking operations involve the cutting and forming of parts from sheet metal. Examples of such parts include automobile body panels, outer shells of laundry machines and metal furniture More than one processing step is often required to complete a compli­cated part. Several presses are connected together in se­quence by handling mechanisms that transfer the partially completed parts from one press to the next, thus creating an automated pressworking line.

1. Divide the text into the logical parts and give a title to each one.

2. Put questions to the text.

3. Discuss it with your groupmates.