Simulation benefits, automation trends, manufacturing expansions are among July and August’s top 10 most-read stories on Control Engineering.
Leading articles posted during July and August on Control Engineering’s website include simulation benefits, automation trends, manufacturing expansion, control-valve sizing, machine vision tips, HMI-SCADA integration, PID control help, digital transformation answers and research on AI plant floor impacts. Topics emphasize optimization and implementation of automation and controls.
1. Why you need to let go of these five simulation myths, Aug. 19
As automation amplifies the consequences of even small changes, simulation provides a zero-risk environment to understand cause and effect relationships, and to eliminate surprises before they impact safety or production.
2. Control Engineering hot topics: June 2026, Aug. 8
From the 2026 Salary Survey results to AI-enabled autonomous systems, explore June and July’s most-read stories on Control Engineering.
3. New hubs and added floor space set up next-wave output, Aug. 27
Endress+Hauser said the projects add testing, staging, repair and calibration capacity while reducing off-site storage across U.S. partner campuses.
4. Deciphering pump curves: How to size control valves, July 28
Control valve sizing data can often be estimated without direct measurement of pressure or flow.
5. Eight ways machine vision and AI are improving automotive manufacturing, July 29
Industrial artificial intelligence helps machine vision provide more effective vehicle inspection systems in eight ways including higher quality, more effective automation and easier commissioning.
6. More answers about how to integrate new HMI or SCADA with existing automation, Aug. 26
Get even more answers from the instructors of the Aug. 13 RCEP Control Engineering webcast, “How to integrate new HMI or SCADA with existing automation,” archived for a year.
7. PID spotlight, part 30: How to shape PID controller response-integrating processes, July 8
When you change your level controller setpoint the response upsets your process. What is the best technique to shape the response to your needs?
8. Five fast answers on digital transformation for controls, instrumentation, Aug. 25
It’s not just digital versus analog instrumentation and controls. Digital transformation means better connections among engineering, operations and maintenance teams, unlocking the technical debt trapped in older automation systems.
9. PID spotlight, part 31: What is PID gap control? Aug. 3
How do you make a PID controller ignore small deviations while still responding to large deviations? What is a gap algorithm? Which algorithms work with which systems?
10. Research: How industrial AI is impacting the plant floor, Aug. 7
New Control Engineering research shows that while implementation is ramping up, engineers remain cautious, prioritizing proven use cases like predictive maintenance over the AI hype cycle.
Check out the top articles from July. (From the 2026 Salary Survey results to AI-enabled autonomous systems, explore June and July’s most-read stories on Control Engineering.)
Mark T. Hoske is editor-in-chief, Control Engineering, Arrowfly, [email protected].
