Utilization of Advanced Control Devices and Highly Autonomous Systems for the Provision of Distributed Automation Systems

The importance of European manufacturing remains high for the European economy as it still accounts directly for 22% of EU Gross Domestic Product (GDP), while it is estimated that 75% of EU GDP and 70% of jobs indirectly depend on the manufacturing sector. Facing intense global competition, the European manufacturing sector has to increase its flexibility and promote advanced business models involving the customer in all phases of the product lifecycle, such as mass customization. Distributed Automation Systems enable the enforcement of such models. Formerly physically centralized hardware and software is distributed in smaller units within the automation system. Advanced control devices relying on a common modeling paradigm may be used in order to provide intelligence at the field/control level. On the other hand, autonomous acting systems may provide the needed middleware for enabling flexible manufacturing systems.