Control designers create interfaces for electronic devices, including factory equipment and vehicles. They use logical thinking and may customize designs to meet user requirements while following safety guidelines. They may use diagrams and CAD to plan and test interfaces before overseeing the manufacturing process.
A controls designer’s job is to design and plan the interfaces for electronic devices. These workers are known as “electronic copywriters” or “control engineers”. Designers are responsible for developing the controls for a wide range of machines, including factory equipment and different types of vehicles. A control designer is required for many applications where a user must interact with an electrical device.
There is no definite educational requirement for a controls designer. Many workers in this field have a four-year degree in an engineering field such as electrical engineering. Others are electronics design graduates and receive additional on-the-job training. Regardless of educational background, a controls designer must be able to think logically to develop simple and intuitive interfaces.
A control designer often has significant flexibility in choosing a design and can customize an interface to meet user requirements. Despite this flexibility, they are generally required to follow basic guidelines set by government safety groups such as the Occupational Safety and Health Agency (OSHA) in the United States. These design principles help ensure that important controls are established in predictable ways. In an industrial control, for example, the emergency stop buttons must be clearly labeled and the status lights must be in the same physical layout as their counterpart valves or motors. Well-designed controls help users to avoid mistakes and react appropriately in an emergency.
Often these designers use diagrams and schematics to plan an interface before it is created. This process can start while a new product is still being developed. Designers consult with other engineers to determine a device’s required functions and operations. Preliminary control designs are sometimes created using computer-aided design (CAD). This approach allows experts to view and manipulate a product’s controls in a virtual space and make quick changes to the layout.
Some projects require a controls designer to create a physical mockup of the proposed design. Engineers can temporarily connect switches and other controls in the same configuration as the planned product to test the interface. Designers simulate many different functions of a product and look for problems in control designs, such as confusing layouts or incorrectly positioned buttons.
When an electrical interface is satisfactory, a designer oversees the final manufacturing process for the controls. Designers must ensure that the proper types of switches, buttons and displays are used. Engineers also help troubleshoot equipment if a malfunction occurs, and are constantly looking for better and safer ways to interact with electronic devices.
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