Control and Automation Evolution in Colombia: History, Contributions, and Current Status

The history of control systems and automation has been the subject of numerous books and articles, including those by S.Bennett, D.Bernstein, L.Bushnell, O.Mayr, and D.Mindell. Recently, papers have summarized the importance of control in the society and how it is paramount in solving future problems. Decision makers must understand the significance of what can be accomplished with the control systems and automation tools, and there is no document in Colombia that details the evolution of the automation systems field. This paper provides a summary of the most significant historical contributions made in the field of control and automation. It breaks the conversation up into four key segments according to the timeframe outlined in the work by Groumpos: Industry 1.0, Industry 2.0, Industry 3.0, and Industry 4.0. The sections devoted to each era are organized according to four key concepts: the most significant historical events surrounding the era, the control and automation concepts created/developed during that time period, and the principal technologies employed. A Colombian pioneer is highlighted for each era.