Reconfigurable Machine Controllers using the OMAC API

With enterprises facing tremendous time-to-market pressures, manufacturing systems must be implemented quickly and modified easily. The ability of the open architecture approach to reconfigure or extend existing machine controllers to meet new needs is one of its advantages in meeting these challenges. Another open architecture advantage is the ability to reuse existing designs or components. However, without open architecture standards, design and component reuse and reconfiguration is economically unfeasible in creating and maintaining machine controllers. This paper will review the Open Modular Architecture Controller (OMAC) Application Programming Interface (API) Workgroup specification that allows systems integrators and end users to extend, modify or upgrade controller components or modules used in developing, assembling, and reconfiguring machine controllers. The paper will examine the OMAC API component-based approach and the various categories of reuse and reconfiguration that the OMAC API supports.