The book gives an overview about automation technology over the last 50 years, based on my own experiences. It is a good summery for automation since 1970 for all who want to know about the context of automation developments and their standards. It is a fundamental summery and enables the reader to get experience in the complex field of automation.

In detail the question is arised, whether Industry 4.0, China 2025, IoT, AI are a revolution or more an evolution of timewise established availbale technologies in HW, SW and algorithms. Is the hype about Industry 4.0 justified or not?

In that context a timelline since 1970 ist shown for AI, ANN, essential milestones in automation, e.g OSI-model, automation pyramid, standards for bus systems, main SW-languages, robots, AI, ANN, pattern recognittion, Ethernet, the 12 most important international field busses, their main features and characterisitcs, foundation of committees, harmonization and standardization efforts, OPC UA and cloud computing, field devices, PLCs, SCADA, MES, ERP and automation history.

All that history is seen in the context of μ-controller, DSP (Digital signal processor), FPGAs (Field Programmable Gate Arrays), ASICs (Application-Specific Integrated Circuit) , Chip on Board. It is include the HW-history, from Intel 8080 to octuple multicore processors. In the same way it is shown the history of field device out from laboratory into the field with all difficulties and benefits of that transition. The issues are summerized in a pyramid of complexity. Requirements for robustness and safety are shown for field devices.

In the same way it is shown the development of mainframes, workstations and PC’s. SAP a leading ERP System is explained in mor detail. Specially it is figured out how SAP works and what has to be considered in working with such kind of system. The differences between MES- and ERP-systems are discussed, specially also for future combined SAP/MES systems.

Explained are the problems of middlesized companies (SMEs) in dealing with Industry 4.0 and automation.

Further examples are given and discussed for automized quality control in automotvie, PCB-handling, CIGS (Solar cell)-production. Also shown is the upgrade for older products and make them ready for automation standards. In detail the history oft he modern robotics is shown for the automotive industry. In summery also is figured out the Industry 5.0 which is just coming up more and more.