This book provides a short overview of the controls and sensor field centering on small control systems. The author attempts to bridge the gap between the users of control technology and experts who design and apply it. The technology that is covered is down at the sensor, microchip, and single control board level. Only short mention is given to prepackaged control systems such as Programmable Logic Controllers (PLCs), distributed control systems, and computer systems. The emphasis is towards simple and low-cost solutions to specific control situations, and many wiring diagrams are introduced to show how various devices and methods would be applied. Several of the examples given involve a control system that is designed as an embedded controller in a product that will be resold. The book is from Great Britain, and so are some of the reference items, which may decrease its value to some non-British readers.

The book is divided into seven chapters, two appendices and a Bibliography. Chapter 1 covers definitions of microchips (e.g., RAM, ROM), single board controllers, and programming systems. Examples from the author’s experience are given to show where and how such devices might be applied, as well as possible drawbacks. PLCs are briefly mentioned as a cosmetic and highly satisfying solution that, however, does not offer the flexibility, sophistication, and low cost that a self-designed system can.

Chapter 2 covers the internal architecture of a controller. The interconnection of the various chips (i.e., CPU, RAM) making up a controller and the chips themselves are explained clearly and in fair detail. From the chip level, we are taken up to the single board controller and small multiboard systems. Software interrupts are also included in the explanation of the internal workings of a controller.

Chapters 3 and 4 cover the sensors and actuators used to interface the controller to the outside world. Although many different parameters to be sensed are mentioned, only temperature, weight, and position are discussed with some detail, and readers are referred to other literature on those sensors of interest to them. Digital interfacing to an analogue world mainly from a hardware point of view is clearly explained. Power switching, actuators, solenoids, and stepper motors are the output devices covered. Little is said about analogue control.

Chapter 5 covers methods of communicating with human operators. Digital readouts (LED, LCD), CRTs, keyboards, and barcodes are covered as methods used by operators to enter and receive data through a control system. Methods of wiring these devices into a controller are shown, and the usefulness of multiplexing is indicated. Speech synthesis is briefly discussed.

Chapter 6 covers communications between machines, both sensors and computers and their associated devices. Sensor signal transmission by DC voltage, fiber optics, and pulse encoding methods with their disadvantages are covered. Parallel (e.g., Centronics) and serial (e.g., RS232C) computer communication methods are compared. How these two methods transmit data and would be used in a control system is shown.

The final chapter consists of several example problems and possible solutions using the material covered in the book.

This book is for those who are just beginning to think about doing a control system at the chip and board level. It can also be used as one of several books for a short course on control systems. It gives a good overview to the different hardware available and their applications, but further reading would be necessary before one could begin a project. The Bibliography at the end gives a fair start for those wanting to get deeper into the subject.