Control Engineering 2001: an automation odyssey

Mark T. Hoske -- Control Engineering, 11/1/2000

Every year seems an odyssey at Control Engineering, but with the start of the real new millennium around the corner, who can resist the reference?

Unlike HAL 9000 computer's takeover in Arthur C. Clarke's 2001: A Space Odyssey, today's automation, controls, and instrumentation serve as tools. These tools sense, measure, decide, and actuate, transmitting data and information through manufacturing, the enterprise, and beyond. (On late nights, it might seem like certain technologies are out to get us. But we know that's not the case...Don't we? Don't we?!)

Back in June, editors—with input from end-users, system integrators and automation vendors—chose article topics for 2001. As we get closer to the issue date, we refine, update, and flesh out topic details in context of latest industry developments and needs. This refining as we go keeps readers coming back for more, and keeps editors excited and interested.

Among vendors, integrators, and end-users, end-users are perhaps most-pressed for time and resources. Competitive pressures have made some sources even more cautious about sharing application knowledge.

If you're called upon by a Control Engineering editor to provide input in print, online, and via newsletters, please respond promptly to help teach what you've learned and give crucial encouragement to other Control Engineering readers, across more than 65 industries. For your best contact, see a staff listing with areas of coverage and e-mail addresses at www.controleng.com/mediainfo. Guidelines for contributing are there also.

To those who volunteered or provided information when asked this past year, thank you.

Cover topics in 2001 closely follow industry trends:

January: overall issue theme: Connecting the plant floor.

February: Automation investments.

March: Editors' Choice Awards—Editors pick the top products Control Engineering covered during year 2000, in our print issues, at Control Engineering Online, and e-newsletters.

April: Sensing: advanced, virtual, sensing for process control, and pressure sensing instrumentation.

May: System integration in action.

June: Special Report: Life-cycle customer services.

July: Integrated control.

Mid-July: Control Engineering Buyer's Guide print version, updated online by vendors: www.controleng.com/buyersguide.

August: Level sensing in hostile environments.

September: issue theme: Control and automation tools.

October: Wireless vs. wired networks.

November: Information integration.

December: Closed-loop integrated motors and controller units.

Mid-December: Control Engineering Automation Integrator Guide, also online at www.controleng.com/integrators.

Related software and "e-manufacturing" will be covered throughout the year.

Check out the full array of editorial topics and latest updates at Control Engineering Online in the Media Info section, upper left corner of www.controleng.com. Please consider participating in our 2001 automation odyssey in the spirit of Arthur C. Clarke's Second Law: "The only way of discovering the limits of the possible is to venture a little way past them into the impossible."