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Software-defined Automation

Intelligent automation driven by software
A modern industrial factory with blue graphics that illustrate it is using automation and cloud computing for data exchange, improving efficiency and productivity.

The future of adaptability and resilience in operations

Traditional control architectures are tightly bound to proprietary hardware, restricting how quickly organizations can innovate and limiting the integration of transformative technologies like AI. Holding back the potential of the organization.

Software‑defined Automation breaks this cycle by decoupling the control software from the underlying automation hardware. The result is a more resilient, capable, and future‑ready control environment. An environment that empowers teams to innovate faster, improve performance, and streamline operations across the entire production ecosystem.


Leverage Software Flexibility in the OT World

Automation DevOps is transforming industrial design workflows by introducing modern CI/CD practices that boost efficiency, rigor and reliability. By leveraging AI, digital twins and automated testing, teams can iterate faster, validate earlier and deploy with greater confidence — accelerating innovation while reducing risk across the automation lifecycle.​

Software-defined Automation

Expanding the OT space leveraging IT-like engineering capabilities

Flexible, rapid deployment

Take your IT speed, security, and flexibility and drive OT innovation.

  • Automation Dev Ops: Modern CI/CD workflows drive design efficiency, increase rigor and reliability by leveraging AI, digital twins and automated testing.​

  • Device Management: Leverage IT-like lifecycle experiences through Rockwell Automation software and modern IT tooling.

Prepare for and tackle new disciplines

Adapt to a changing world by integrating modern and disruptive technology at scale.

  • Modern Disciplines: Go beyond automation disciplines by integrating robotics, AI, vision, ML workloads both internally and through our partner ecosystem.​

  • Open Access to Data: Ease of access to contextualized data will be driven by support of IT protocols, and predefined data models/standards.

Unleash industry specific innovation

Unburden software from hardware limits to drive specific adaptations for industry.

  • Form Factors: Deploy relevant industry-centric form factors (ie. life sciences small IPC, on-machine IPC with display, AMR-friendly, integrated GPU, classic form factors).​

  • Scale: Expand range of portfolio (ie. small-IPCto large-IDC, limited-ARM to high performance-multicore).

Integrated layers of Rockwell Automation’s Software-defined Automation portfolio

Design Visualization Control

Design

Our approach creates a unified software‑defined design environment that brings multiple engineering disciplines into one standardized workflow, enabling teams to move from concept to production far more quickly. By streamlining rapid iteration, reuse, collaboration, and virtual design, new processes and technologies can be integrated into operations at unprecedented speed. Paired with digital twin capabilities, it allows engineers to validate and optimize virtually, reducing commissioning time and accelerating innovation on the plant floor.

Visualization

Visualization systems are often among the most expensive plant floor systems to maintain and are a common target for unauthorized users looking to access control system assets and intellectual property. Our solutions ensure the security of your plant floor and create end-to-end HMI and IIoT solutions that offer flexibility across the equipment lifecycle. 

Control

As you start to build a connected enterprise, you need an automation and control system with all devices seamlessly integrated rather than a collection of individual products. We have evolved our products, software and services to help you bridge the gap between machinery-level systems and enterprise systems to improve decision making.​

Deploy relevant industry-centric form factors for specific industry requirements. Examples include small IPC, on-machine IPC with display, AMR-friendly, integrated GPUs, shared memory and more. This allows scale to expand the range of a portfolio such as small-IPC to large-IDC, limited-ARM to high-performance-multicore, increased RAM capacity and speed, and GPU upgrades that deliver resilient performance for demanding enterprise workloads.​

Design
Visualization
Control

Software-define Automation solutions available now

Emulate3D Digital Twin Software
Emulate3D Digital Twin Software
Emulate3D Digital Twin Software
Expand what’s possible in the design and performance of your machines using Emulate3D™ digital twin software.
FactoryTalk Design Studio
FactoryTalk Design Studio
FactoryTalk Design Studio
Work more efficiently and unleash your next-generation production systems using our modern, multi-user, multi-controller automation design software.
Programmable Controllers
Programmable Controllers
Programmable Controllers
From large to micro, meet varied application needs with our programmable logic controllers (PLC) and programmable automation controllers (PAC).
FactoryTalk Logix Echo Software
FactoryTalk Logix Echo Software
FactoryTalk Logix Echo Software
Save time during prototyping, design, and testing with FactoryTalk® Logix Echo emulation software for ControlLogix® 5580 controllers.
FactoryTalk Optix
FactoryTalk Optix
FactoryTalk Optix
Achieve your HMI, IIoT, Edge and Data Platform vision with collaboration, scalability and interoperability that improve deliverables and efficiency.
Ready to talk to a Rockwell Automation consultant?

We offer industry expertise to help design, implement and support your automation investment.

Contact Us
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