Which device is primarily used for remote monitoring and control of field devices in industrial automation?

The Remote Terminal Unit (RTU) is primarily used for remote monitoring and control of field devices in industrial automation due to its specific design and functional capabilities. RTUs are designed to communicate with various sensors, actuators, and other devices in the field, enabling real-time data collection, processing, and control commands.

RTUs typically operate in environments where they gather data from field devices and transmit it back to a central control system, such as a SCADA (Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition) system. They serve as a crucial link, allowing operators to monitor performance and make necessary adjustments from a distance, which enhances operational efficiency and response times in critical industrial processes.

While routers, servers, and workstations play essential roles in industrial networks, they do not specialize in interacting directly with field devices as RTUs do. Routers manage the communication between networks, servers provide data management and processing, and workstations are used by operators for user interface purposes. However, the unique functionality of RTUs makes them the backbone of remote monitoring and control in industrial automation settings.