Automation Framework - the .Net Construction Kit for Automation Solutions

Would you like to realize your own .NET application in a very short time?

Would it be desirable to simply create an integrated engineering platform with standardized look and feel and consistent data management? Your own software platform for the automation that includes all required tools, from planning and programming, visualization and commissioning of an installation up to the maintenance, documentation and sales of the installation? Or would you just like to integrate a professional editor into your programming environment?

The situation in the automation industry...

Automation solutions are getting more and more complex, the engineering effort is growing continuously, the degree of automation is increasing steadily. It is increasingly more difficult and requires more effort and costs to solve centralized and decentralized control tasks economically and efficiently.

Requirements of today are:

• Open and integrated automation platforms in which all automation devices cooperate with consistent data, from intelligent sensors/actuators, via I/O systems, PLCs, drive solutions and robot controls up to HMI panels.
• Preassigned functional machine entities which can be reused as a solution.
• Minimum development time and costs for individual device versions 
• Maximum reusability of (software) components 
• Optimum maintainability and possibility to change 
• Maximum reliability 
• Minimum test/application effort for individual versions

But: In comparison, the tools used today are device dependent and are often incompatible with each other, which results in huge integration efforts for heterogeneous systems. Synergy effects cannot be recorded very often which frequently makes it impossible to calculate time and costs for software projects etc.

Automation Framework, the component-based software platform is the solution!

The solution: Automation Framework

With Automation Framework, software tools based on Microsoft.NET can be created or existing COM-based software tools can be integrated.

• What are your advantages of using Automation Framework?
• Standardized look and feel of the software
• Common and consistent data of all software components that are integrated in one platform
• Consistent handling of all integrated software tools
• Fast development of new Microsoft.NET-based software tools (configuration instead of programming).

Automation Framework allows the automation solution as overall task in one platform.

What are the components of Automation Framework?

Automation Framework consists of various components which can be used depending on the actual application case. These include:

• Component Framework used as basis and frame for the target application
• The Integrated Development Environment (IDE) provides the user interface elements
• ObjectStore used as basis for the data management model

From your own tool up to the functional platform

Today, end users require the integration of software tools of all participating specialist departments into functional (interdisciplinary) platforms. Here, medium-sized companies have to provide the same integration level than great companies. This is only possible if the efforts and times for developing the software can be drastically reduced. Automation Framework is the solution.

Effective development and maintenance of software tools: The target of Automation Framework is the effective development and maintenance of software tools for the automation engineering. Repeatedly required functions are provided in the form of approved components and a stable base architecture.
The result: Considerably reduced complexity when defining a new tool and drastically reduced efforts and risks during development.

Tool integration into software platforms: The architecture of Automation Framework allows to use the developed tools individually or as integrated applications in combination with other tools. Due to the consistent object-oriented approach, software suites with consistent data management can be created which allow the user to develop machines by means of mechatronical modules and to do functional engineering.
The result: Software suites are developed by simply integrating existing software tools via XML configuration.

 [The way of creating your tool]
 [The way of realizing your software suite]
 [Functional platform]