dcs

[nindyonathan]

A distributed control system (DCS) refers to a control system (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Control_system) usually of a manufacturing system (http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Manufacturing_system&action=edit&redlink=1), process (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Industrial_process) or any kind of dynamic system (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dynamic_system), in which the controller (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Controller_%28control_theory%29) elements are not central in location (like the brain) but are distributed throughout the system with each component sub-system controlled by one or more controllers. The entire system of controllers is connected by networks for communication and monitoring.
DCS is a very broad term used in a variety of industries, to monitor and control distributed equipment.


Electrical power grids (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electrical_power_grid) and electrical generation plants
Environmental control systems
Traffic signals
Radio signals
Water management systems
Oil refining plants
Metallurgical (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metallurgical) process plants
Chemical plants (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chemical_plant)
Pharmaceutical manufacturing
Sensor networks (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sensor_networks)
Dry cargo and bulk oil carrier ships