Examines the implementation of modern control techniques and associated instrumentation using distributed computers. Practical hardware aspects, including measurement and actuation, data conditioning, acquisition and transmission, microprocessor devices, and other distributed computing components. Commercial realisations ranging from PLCs to full process control computing systems. Software: executive operating systems, concurrency, control algorithms, numerical problems, languages and development tools in the real-time context. Design of the man-machine interface using interactive computer display systems. The role of simulation and other CAD tools. Steps of engineering development from concept to commissioning. The viewpoint of industrial design is maintained throughout.