Evaluate the AutomationView desktop suite free for 30 days. No credit card required. Claim trial key →
person_outline shopping_cart

Category: AutomationView

Stay Updated with AutomationView

Get the latest articles and news delivered directly to your inbox.

Log in to Subscribe

You must be registered and logged in to manage subscriptions.

search

Inside AutomationView: Leveraging the Python SDK for Automated Regression Testing of SFC Logic

AutomationView 
%%{init: {'theme':'dark', 'themeVariables': { 'background': '#001c38' }}}%%
flowchart LR
    A["Git Commit"]:::bgBlue --> B["CI Pipeline"]:::bgGreen
    B --> C["AutomationView SDK"]:::bgBlue
    C --> D["SFC Execution"]:::bgRed
    D --> E["Test Report"]:::bgGreen

    classDef bgBlue fill:#2563eb,color:#ffffff,stroke-width:0px
    classDef bgGreen fill:#16a34a,color:#ffffff,stroke-width:0px
    classDef bgRed fill:#dc2626,color:#ffffff,stroke-width:0px
AutomationView Icon AutomationView
calendar_month

Inside AutomationView: Leveraging the Python SDK for Automated Regression Testing of SFC Logic

Automated regression testing is common in standard software engineering, but it remains notoriously difficult to implement in the industrial automation world. Engineers often test PLC code manually during the commissioning phase, discovering logic conflicts only when physical hardware is at risk. By leveraging the AutomationView Python SDK, control engineers can run automated regression testing on […]

Read Article arrow_forward

Inside AutomationView: Implementing GEMMA for Master State Coordination in PLC Sequences

AutomationView 
%%{init: {'theme':'dark', 'themeVariables': { 'background': '#001c38' }}}%%
flowchart LR
    A[GEMMA PC] -->|State Coordination| B[AutomationView]
    B -->|SFC Logic| C[PLC Hardware]
    B -->|Python Sim| D[Digital Twin]
    style A fill:#0d47a1,stroke:#1e88e5,stroke-width:2px,color:#fff
    style B fill:#1b5e20,stroke:#4caf50,stroke-width:2px,color:#fff
    style C fill:#424242,stroke:#757575,stroke-width:2px,color:#fff
    style D fill:#4a148c,stroke:#9c27b0,stroke-width:2px,color:#fff
AutomationView Icon AutomationView
calendar_month

Inside AutomationView: Implementing GEMMA for Master State Coordination in PLC Sequences

Key Takeaways: The GEMMA framework provides a standardized visual approach to managing machine states beyond normal production (stops, faults, preparations). Integrating GEMMA directly into your AutomationView GEMMA implementation bridges the gap between high-level operational modes and low-level Sequential Function Charts (SFC). By decoupling the master state logic from the physical actuators, engineers achieve significantly more […]

Read Article arrow_forward

Inside AutomationView: Implementing IEC 60848 Macro-Steps

AutomationView 
%%{init: {'theme':'dark', 'themeVariables': { 'background': '#001c38' }}}%%
flowchart LR
    M1["Macro-Step (M1)"]:::blueNode --> T1["Transition"]:::grayNode
    T1 --> E1["Enclosure (E1)"]:::greenNode
    
    classDef blueNode fill:#2563eb,stroke:#1d4ed8,color:#ffffff
    classDef grayNode fill:#6b7280,stroke:#4b5563,color:#ffffff
    classDef greenNode fill:#16a34a,stroke:#15803d,color:#ffffff
AutomationView Icon AutomationView
calendar_month

Inside AutomationView: Implementing IEC 60848 Macro-Steps

Key Takeaways Macro-steps hide sub-process complexity by encapsulating detailed expansions with strict single-input/single-output rules. Enclosures manage hierarchical state, controlling the activation of subordinate sub-GRAFCETs dynamically. AutomationView enforces these IEC 60848 rules natively, preventing race conditions in large-scale sequential logic. When an automation project scales beyond a few dozen states, a flat Sequential Function Chart (SFC) […]

Read Article arrow_forward

Inside AutomationView: Architecting Custom Python Simulation Models for Virtual Commissioning

AutomationView 
%%{init: {'theme':'dark', 'themeVariables': { 'background': '#001c38' }}}%%
flowchart LR
    subgraph automationview ["AutomationView IDE"]
        SFC["SFC Logic"]:::blue
        PY["Python Sim Model"]:::green
    end
    subgraph execution ["Validation Environment"]
        SIL["Software-in-the-Loop"]:::purple
        HIL["Hardware-in-the-Loop"]:::red
    end
    SFC -->|Validates| PY
    PY -->|Exports| SIL
    SIL -->|Tests| HIL
    classDef blue fill:#2563eb,color:#ffffff,stroke-width:0px;
    classDef green fill:#16a34a,color:#ffffff,stroke-width:0px;
    classDef purple fill:#9333ea,color:#ffffff,stroke-width:0px;
    classDef red fill:#dc2626,color:#ffffff,stroke-width:0px;
AutomationView Icon AutomationView
calendar_month

Inside AutomationView: Architecting Custom Python Simulation Models for Virtual Commissioning

Commissioning industrial control systems on the factory floor is notoriously fraught with delays. Hardware arrives late, field wiring requires troubleshooting, and unexpected edge cases in PLC code only surface when mechanical components fail to behave as assumed. Virtual commissioning mitigates these risks, but connecting proprietary logic environments to dynamic physical models often requires complex middleware. […]

Read Article arrow_forward

Inside AutomationView: Implementing Version Control and CI/CD for PLC SFCs using Git Integration

AutomationView 
%%{init: {'theme':'dark', 'themeVariables': { 'background': '#001c38' }}}%%
flowchart LR
    A["Local Editor"]:::local -->|Commit/Push| B["Git Repository"]:::repo
    B -->|Trigger| C["CI/CD Pipeline"]:::ci
    C -->|Deploy| D["PLC Edge Gateway"]:::plc

    classDef local fill:#2563eb,color:#ffffff,stroke:#1d4ed8,stroke-width:2px;
    classDef repo fill:#16a34a,color:#ffffff,stroke:#15803d,stroke-width:2px;
    classDef ci fill:#9333ea,color:#ffffff,stroke:#7e22ce,stroke-width:2px;
    classDef plc fill:#ea580c,color:#ffffff,stroke:#c2410c,stroke-width:2px;
AutomationView Icon AutomationView
calendar_month

Inside AutomationView: Implementing Version Control and CI/CD for PLC SFCs using Git Integration

Key Takeaways: Traditional PLC binary formats make standard Git diffs and merges nearly impossible on the plant floor. AutomationView bridges this gap by leveraging text-based serialization for Sequential Function Charts (SFCs). Automated CI/CD pipelines prevent syntax errors and logical flaws from reaching production hardware. Native Git integration simplifies collaboration across multiple automation engineers. The industrial […]

Read Article arrow_forward

Inside AutomationView: Using Python to Procedurally Generate Complex SFC Sequences

AutomationView 
%%{init: {'theme':'dark', 'themeVariables': { 'background': '#001c38' }}}%%
flowchart LR
    A["Python Script"]:::blue --> B["AutomationView API"]:::green
    B --> C["Generated SFC / Grafcet"]:::red
    classDef blue fill:#2563eb,stroke:#1e40af,color:#ffffff
    classDef green fill:#16a34a,stroke:#166534,color:#ffffff
    classDef red fill:#dc2626,stroke:#991b1b,color:#ffffff
AutomationView Icon AutomationView
calendar_month

Inside AutomationView: Using Python to Procedurally Generate Complex SFC Sequences

Generating large, highly parameterized SFC (Sequential Function Chart) sequences by hand can quickly become a bottleneck in PLC engineering. Inside AutomationView: Using Python to Procedurally Generate Complex SFC Sequences explores how to eliminate manual drafting by utilizing the AutomationView Python API to script logic programmatically. The Paradox of Manual Sequence Design Modern machine builders often […]

Read Article arrow_forward

Inside AutomationView Fault Injection: A Technical Guide to Validating PLC Edge Cases

AutomationView 
%%{init: {'theme':'dark', 'themeVariables': { 'background': '#001c38' }}}%%
flowchart LR
    A["PLC Sequence"]:::blue -->|Inject Fault| B["AutomationView Simulator"]:::green
    B -->|Analyze Response| C["Error Handling Logic"]:::red
    classDef blue fill:#2563eb,stroke:#1d4ed8,stroke-width:2px,color:#ffffff
    classDef green fill:#16a34a,stroke:#15803d,stroke-width:2px,color:#ffffff
    classDef red fill:#dc2626,stroke:#b91c1c,stroke-width:2px,color:#ffffff
AutomationView Icon AutomationView
calendar_month

Inside AutomationView Fault Injection: A Technical Guide to Validating PLC Edge Cases

In industrial control systems, a single unchecked edge case can result in catastrophic mechanical failure or prolonged downtime. Validating that a Programmable Logic Controller (PLC) responds correctly to sensor failures, communication drops, and unexpected logic states is notoriously difficult in live production environments. AutomationView Fault Injection allows control engineers to deliberately introduce errors within a […]

Read Article arrow_forward

Integrating AutomationView for Headless PLC Simulation via Docker

AutomationView 
%%{init: {'theme':'dark', 'themeVariables': { 'background': '#001c38' }}}%%
flowchart LR
    A[Git Push] --> B[CI/CD Pipeline]
    B --> C[Docker: AutomationView]
    C --> D[Headless PLC Simulation]
    D --> E[Test Report]
    style C fill:#0f4c81,stroke:#fff,stroke-width:2px,color:#fff
AutomationView Icon AutomationView
calendar_month

Integrating AutomationView for Headless PLC Simulation via Docker

Key Takeaways: Running AutomationView in a headless Docker container removes hardware dependencies for CI/CD testing. Headless PLC simulation accelerates regression testing by spinning up isolated virtual runtimes. Integrating Python-based `pytest` scripts with containerized OPC UA endpoints ensures deterministic validation. The Shift Toward Virtualized Control Logic Testing Validating complex Sequential Function Charts (SFCs) on physical hardware […]

Read Article arrow_forward

How to Automate PLC Documentation Generation from AutomationView SFCs

AutomationView 
%%{init: {'theme':'dark', 'themeVariables': { 'background': '#001c38' }}}%%
flowchart LR
    A["AutomationView SFC"]:::blue --> B["Python Extraction Engine"]:::green
    B --> C["Automated Documentation"]:::red
    classDef blue fill:#2563eb,stroke:#fff,stroke-width:2px,color:#fff
    classDef green fill:#16a34a,stroke:#fff,stroke-width:2px,color:#fff
    classDef red fill:#dc2626,stroke:#fff,stroke-width:2px,color:#fff
AutomationView Icon AutomationView
calendar_month

How to Automate PLC Documentation Generation from AutomationView SFCs

Key Takeaways: Manual PLC documentation generation is prone to errors and quickly becomes out-of-sync with production code. AutomationView allows engineers to auto-generate comprehensive specs directly from SFC (Sequential Function Chart) and Grafcet logic. Integrating Python-based extraction tools ensures a single source of truth for both code and technical documentation. The Challenge of Keeping PLC Specs […]

Read Article arrow_forward

Inside AutomationView: Git Collaboration for PLC Design

AutomationView 
%%{init: {'theme':'dark', 'themeVariables': { 'background': '#001c38' }}}%%
flowchart LR
    A[Engineer 1] -->|Commit| B(Git Repo)
    C[Engineer 2] -->|Pull| B
    B --> D{AutomationView}
    D -->|Deploy| E[Plant Floor PLC]
    style B fill:#3b82f6,stroke:#1d4ed8,stroke-width:2px,color:#fff
AutomationView Icon AutomationView
calendar_month

Inside AutomationView: Git Collaboration for PLC Design

Key Takeaways: Traditional PLC programming suffers from binary file limitations, making version control nearly impossible. AutomationView exports sequence data natively to text, enabling full Git capability. Learn how branching and merging can prevent costly overwrites on the plant floor. The Binary File Dilemma in Industrial Automation PLC environments were traditionally designed around proprietary binary blobs. […]

Read Article arrow_forward

Optimize AutomationView SFC Debugging

AutomationView 
%%{init: {'theme':'dark', 'themeVariables': { 'background': '#001c38' }}}%%
flowchart LR
    init["Initial Step"]:::step --> token["Active Token"]:::active
    token -->|Unfulfilled Transition| next["Next State"]:::pending
    classDef step fill:#16a34a,color:#ffffff
    classDef active fill:#2563eb,color:#ffffff
    classDef pending fill:#dc2626,color:#ffffff
AutomationView Icon AutomationView
calendar_month

Optimize AutomationView SFC Debugging

Picture a packaging line abruptly halting mid-cycle. The motors are silent, the pneumatic cylinders are frozen, and the HMI simply indicates “System Waiting.” For industrial automation engineers, a stalled Sequential Function Chart (SFC) or Grafcet is a familiar headache. Identifying exactly which transition condition is missing out of dozens can consume hours of valuable production […]

Read Article arrow_forward

Inside AutomationView: Real-Time OPC UA Integration for HMI Validation

AutomationView 
%%{init: {'theme':'dark', 'themeVariables': { 'background': '#001c38' }}}%%
flowchart LR
    A["AutomationView SFC"]:::blueNode -->|OPC UA Server| B["Network Socket"]:::greenNode
    B -->|OPC UA Client| C["SCADA / HMI"]:::redNode
    
    classDef blueNode fill:#2563eb,stroke:#ffffff,color:#ffffff
    classDef greenNode fill:#16a34a,stroke:#ffffff,color:#ffffff
    classDef redNode fill:#dc2626,stroke:#ffffff,color:#ffffff
AutomationView Icon AutomationView
calendar_month

Inside AutomationView: Real-Time OPC UA Integration for HMI Validation

TL;DR: Integrating OPC UA natively into AutomationView closes the loop on virtual commissioning. By exposing your simulated SFC logic to third-party SCADA systems in real-time, engineers can fully validate HMI connectivity and operator workflows before a single piece of hardware is powered on. The Challenge of Isolated PLC Simulation Modern automation engineers face a paradox: […]

Read Article arrow_forward