One software is expected to unite company’s automation architecture

Rockwell Automation Studio 5000 unified engineering and design environment is expected to develop into one standard software for future users of the Rockwell Automation Integrated Architecture.

November 9, 2012

With Rockwell Software Studio 5000 unified engineering and design environment, releasing later in November, Rockwell Automation expects to provide a framework for engineering collaboration. It sets the foundation for design tools that allow engineers to enter configuration and programming information once, and then leverage it across the entire control system architecture from design to operation to maintenance, according to Rockwell Automation.

The new platform is expected to begin with being able to program two lines of Rockwell Automation programmable automation controllers (PACs), and eventually will unify, or integrate, within one software environment, what the company has called its “Integrated Architecture.”

The debut of Studio 5000 software is expected to include the Logix Designer application for programming and configuration of Allen-Bradley ControlLogix 5570 and CompactLogix 5370 PACs. Later versions are expected to provide applications for other engineering tasks, such as HMI development, library management for reusable components, information integration, and other company software.

Studio 5000 environment will build on the “superior usability of Rockwell Software RSLogix 5000 software, further improving the user experience, and the design and productivity of automation systems,” said Kevin Zaba, vice president and general manager, control and visualization business, Rockwell Automation.

“Optimally integrated hardware and software means users can define data once and easily use it across the Integrated Architecture system. The data and tag structures are natively recognized and automatically picked up by the other system components, improving development efficiency and reducing programming errors. A unified engineering and design environment also communicates and performs at higher speeds. For customers, the result is improved productivity, shorter design cycles and a faster time-to-market,” Zaba said.

Maintaining familiar, user-friendly workflows and interfaces from the RSLogix 5000 design and configuration software, the new Studio 5000 environment creates an optimal level of integration within the Integrated Architecture system. Optimal integration is accomplished by embedding features, such as program comments and descriptions, and a new alarm log, directly in the controller, the company said.

The new environment taps additional memory storage capacity in the latest generation of Logix controllers so program comments, for example, that describe the functionality of each line of code, can be maintained in the controller without reducing available user memory. A complete project will be able to be stored in the controller, with comments correlated for multiple users, reducing time and effort related to maintenance and troubleshooting, the company said.

Additionally, the Studio 5000 environment creates a controller-based (versus HMI-based) alarm log. Storing this information in the controller means alarm data will not be lost if there is a communication or network failure between the HMI and the controller. Additionally, support for the ISA 18.2 state model allows for simpler creation of alarming systems that align with this widely accepted recommendation. The Studio 5000 unified engineering and design environment will be available globally under the same catalog number as RSLogix 5000 software.

Rockwell Automation Inc. (NYSE: ROK) describes itself as the world’s largest company dedicated to industrial automation and information, making customers more productive and the world more sustainable. Headquartered in Milwaukee, Wis., Rockwell Automation employs over 22,000 people serving customers in more than 80 countries.

www.rockwellautomation.com

– Edited by Mark T. Hoske, content manager, CFE Media, Control Engineering and Plant Engineering, mhoske@cfemedia.com.