1946 The American mechanical engineer D.S. Harder first proposed the term "automation" and used it to describe the process of automatic transmission and processing of engine cylinders. In the 1950s, the development of automatic regulators and classic control theories enabled automation to enter a partial automation stage dominated by single-variable automatic regulation systems. the 60's
With the emergence of modern control theory and the popularization and application of electronic computers, the combination of automatic control and information processing has enabled automation to enter the integrated automation stage of optimal control and management of the production process.
The objects of automation become large-scale and complex engineering and non-engineering systems, which involve many problems that are difficult to solve with modern control theory. The research on these issues has promoted the innovation of theories, methods and means of automation, so system control of large-scale systems and intelligent control of complex systems have emerged, and advanced technologies such as comprehensive utilization of computer, communication technology, system engineering and artificial intelligence have emerged. Automation systems, such as flexible manufacturing systems, office automation, intelligent robots, expert systems, decision support systems, computer integrated manufacturing systems, etc.