Traditionally in Automation history machines are controlled by electrical circuit logic, timers, contactors, and relays. This technology eventually evolved into machines that were controlled by PLC-devices (Programmable Logic Controller).
The modern automation equipment of today is more data driven then before and this drives the need of using more high-level software for controlling the automation equipment. The software is what brings life to a factory. A seamless integration between the drawing data of buildings and machine data directly to the machines is the goal.