1900sTech04

Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. has many relevant monthly technical magazines:

Design News (my favorite)
Control Engineering
Manufacturing Business Technology
Manufacturing.net
Modern Materials Handling
Test and Measurement World

Penton Media has even more relevant technical magazines

Machine Design (my other favorite)
Hydraulics & Pneumatics
Motion System Design
Air Transport World Airport
ATW's Airport Equipment & Technology
IndustryWeek.com
Welding Design & Fabrication
New Equipment Digest
Electronic Design

Others I like are:

Popular Mechanics
Popular Science
Sensors
Robotics & Automation
Manufacturing Automation
Composite Technologies
Reinforced Plastics
High Performance Composites
Automotive Engineering
Aerospace America (AIAA)

Of course, these various magazines publish information about upcoming technology Trade Shows. Visiting as many automation related shows as possible and asking questions is a must. Fun too!