A machine comprising: a system comprising: a network of a plurality of sensing and control devices (68A, 68B) distributed throughout the machine, each of the plurality of sensing and control devices (68A, 68B) being secured to at least one respective sub-system component (70, 74) of the machine, having a physical actuation device, being operable to communicate through a plurality of electromagnetic signals; and, optionally, being operable as an identification device; shielding (84, 76) surrounding at least one of the plurality of sensing and/or control and/or identification devices to contain the electromagnetic signals proximate to the respective at least one sub-system components; shielding surrounding at least one transmission path (78, 72) for transmission of the plurality of electromagnetic signals; a remote processing unit operable to communicate with the network of the sensing and control devices via the electromagnetic signals via the at least one transmission path, and an electromagnetic transmitting source for energizing the sensing and control devices; wherein the at least one transmission path extends to the remote processing unit and each of the plurality of sensing and control devices has internal memory independent of the remote processing unit, the internal memory having historical data corresponding to its respective at least one sub-system component. a network of a plurality of sensing and control devices (68A, 68B) distributed throughout the machine, each of the plurality of sensing and control devices (68A, 68B) being secured to at least one respective sub-system component (70, 74) of the machine, having a physical actuation device, being operable to communicate through a plurality of electromagnetic signals; and, optionally, being operable as an identification device; being secured to at least one respective sub-system component (70, 74) of the machine, having a physical actuation device, being operable to communicate through a plurality of electromagnetic signals; and, optionally, being operable as an identification device; shielding (84, 76) surrounding at least one of the plurality of sensing and/or control and/or identification devices to contain the electromagnetic signals proximate to the respective at least one sub-system components; shielding surrounding at least one transmission path (78, 72) for transmission of the plurality of electromagnetic signals; a remote processing unit operable to communicate with the network of the sensing and control devices via the electromagnetic signals via the at least one transmission path, and an electromagnetic transmitting source for energizing the sensing and control devices; wherein the at least one transmission path extends to the remote processing unit and each of the plurality of sensing and control devices has internal memory independent of the remote processing unit, the internal memory having historical data corresponding to its respective at least one sub-system component. the at least one transmission path extends to the remote processing unit and each of the plurality of sensing and control devices has internal memory independent of the remote processing unit, the internal memory having historical data corresponding to its respective at least one sub-system component.