Robots were once an esoteric and expensive technology that provided limited special-purpose use as welders or parts stackers. In this month's Control Design cover story, Senior Technical Editor Dan Hebert explains how robotic advances have brought these devices into widespread use in a host of manufacturing applications, in many cases creating automated production lines. Also in the December issue: Discover how a PAC solution might help in ways that a PLC or PC-based control system can't;