1. Initial stage
In the late 19th century, companies such as Siemens and ABB began researching and developing electrical control technology. The earliest electrical control technology was a simple system composed of electrical switches, relays, and contactors, mainly used to control the start stop and direction of electric motors.
2. Automatic control stage
In the early 20th century, electrical control technology began to develop into more complex and automated systems. During this period, researchers invented automatic control systems that can automatically control various machines and process processes through sensors and feedback control circuits.
3. Programmable controller stage
In the 1960s, the emergence of programmable logic controllers (PLCs) marked another leap in electrical control technology. PLC is a programmable computer that can control various production equipment through programming. It has high flexibility and reliability, and is widely used in automated industrial production.
4. Digital control stage
In the 1990s, electrical control technology entered the digital control stage. With the rapid development of computer technology, digital control systems have begun to be widely used in various industrial production. Digital control systems can provide higher accuracy and stability, enabling more complex control operations.
5. Intelligent control stage
With the development of artificial intelligence technology, electrical control technology has entered the stage of intelligent control. Modern electrical control systems can not only control various equipment and process through programs, but also self learn and optimize through machine learning and other technologies to adapt to different production environments and process flows.
Overall, the development of electrical control technology has gone through a process from simple switch and relay control to automation, digitization, and intelligence. The application of these technologies has made industrial production more efficient, precise, and reliable.