“B&R Automation Studio is extremely flexible”

April 29, 2015 5:14 pm

 The size of the automation solution doesn’t make a difference. Whether you’re working with a small machine or automating an entire plant, you can still work with the same tool.Hans Egermeier, Business Unit Manager – Automation Software, B&R
B&R’s Automation Studio engineering software is a universal tool for every phase of an automation project – from development and commissioning to maintenance and diagnostics. Hans Egermeier, Business Unit Manager – Automation Software, B&R, speaks about current challenges facing the automation industry and the new functions available in Automation Studio.
The contribution of software engineering to the development of new machines and systems is constantly increasing. What challenges face engineering platforms such as Automation Studio in relation to Industry 4.0?The demands facing machines and systems are on the rise: improved product quality, faster production speeds and series production with a batch size of one are just a few examples. No matter what, the software has to be able to handle increasingly complex tasks. We need tools that can master this complexity. At the same time, ensuring an environment that fosters innovation is a must. New systems, machines and applications have to be developed and set up quickly. This also means that software like Automation Studio must provide the maximum possible degree of flexibility.
What functions have been implemented in Automation Studio to meet these challenges?It’s not really the individual functions that make Automation Studio an ideal engineering platform. The entire concept is much more important. That’s why anyone who uses B&R technology to automate their machines only needs a single tool: Automation Studio. This one development environment handles all essential product types – from the controller and HMI systems to motion control and even safety technology, everything is fully integrated. The size of the automation solution doesn’t make a difference. Whether you’re working with a small machine or automating an entire plant, you can still work with the same tool. Whenever you develop a new variant of an existing machine, it’s possible to reuse a large part of the software.
For machine manufacturers, engineering is only part of the job. What do things look like after development is finished?Development is only one part of Automation Studio. This software can also be used to manage all other tasks, including commissioning, troubleshooting and service. In addition to the advanced simulation tools also integrated in Automation Studio, its modular and object-oriented approach to programming ensures that software is simple and clearly structured, regardless of the degree of complexity.
Is all of this enough to keep development going at the required rate?No, it is also necessary to stop developing the mechanical, electronic and software components of a project separately. Automation Studio makes it possible for these three engineering disciplines to be worked on simultaneously to a very large degree, which saves quite a lot of time. Even more time is saved when the software is developed in modular units.

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