Systems, Cybernetics, Control, and Automation

Download or read book Systems, Cybernetics, Control, and Automation written by Spyros G. Tzafestas and published by River Publishers. This book was released on 2017-07-17 with total page 518 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Systems, cybernetics, control, and automation (SCCA) are four interrelated and overlapping scientific and technological fields that have contributed substantially to the development, growth, and progress of human society. A large number of models, methods, and tools were developed that assure high efficiency of SCCA applied to practical situations. The real-life applications of SCCA encompass a wide range of man-made or biological systems, including transportations, power generation, chemical industry, robotics, manufacturing, cybernetics organisms (cyborgs), aviation, economic systems, enterprise, systems, medical/health systems, environmental applications, and so on. The SCCA fields exhibit strong influences on society and rise, during their use and application, many ethical concerns and dilemmas. This book provides a consolidated and concise overview of SCCA, in a single volume for the first time, focusing on ontological, epistemological, social impact, ethical, and general philosophical issues. It is appropriate for use in engineering courses as a convenient tutorial source providing fundamental conceptual and educational material on these issues, or for independent reading by students and scientists. Included in the book is: Background material on philosophy and systems theoryMajor ontological, epistemological, societal and ethical/philosophical aspects of the four fields that are considered in the bookOver 400 references and a list of 130 additional books in the relevant fields Over 100 colored photos and 70 line figures that illustrate the text