Automation is a method of controlling machines or equipment through electronic and automatic devices with as little human interference as possible. It has become especially prevalent within the industrial manufacturing field due to rapid innovations in computerized technology. Automated systems were developed as a way to minimize human error and maximize production efficiency, and they can take on many forms. From computer-controlled test equipment to automatically operated household appliances, automation can serve as a substitute for manual control in numerous ways. It has become an important part of both commercial and private life, and its range of applications only continues to grow.

Like automated systems, electronics technology is becoming more advanced and expanding its field of use. Electronic systems largely deal with device applications and electrical power distribution. But despite significant technical progress, electronics still focuses on the same fundamental aspects it encompassed since its beginnings in the nineteenth century: inputs, signal processors, and outputs.