AutomationML

AutomationML
Name	AutomationML
Developer	AutomationML e.V.
Released	2008
Programming language	XML
Operating system	Cross-platform
License	Open standard

AutomationML AutomationML is an industrial data exchange format designed for engineering tool interoperability in manufacturing and production systems. It aims to enable consistent data transfer among Siemens, ABB Group, Bosch, Schneider Electric, and other automation vendors, facilitating integration between CAD editors, PLM systems, SCADA platforms, and MES products. The format builds on established technologies such as XML, CAEX, COLLADA, and Profibus-related ecosystems to represent topology, geometry, kinematics, and behavioral aspects of automation assets.

Overview

AutomationML provides a containerized mechanism to aggregate multiple specialized meta-models so that entities designed in PTC-based environments, Dassault Systèmes, Autodesk, or Siemens PLM tools can be exchanged with runtime systems from Rockwell Automation, Mitsubishi Electric, and Yokogawa Electric. The approach leverages CAEX for hierarchical object representation, COLLADA for 3D geometry, and PLCopen XML for logic descriptions, enabling cross-vendor workflows spanning Siemens TIA Portal, EPLAN, and Tecnomatix. AutomationML is often promoted by consortia like AutomationML e.V. and referenced in collaboration with standards bodies including IEC-related committees and ISO working groups.

History and Development

Initial work on AutomationML began as a response to integration needs identified by companies such as BMW, Daimler AG, and Bosch Rexroth during early 2000s automation projects. Formalization progressed with contributions from industrial stakeholders including Siemens AG, Phoenix Contact, and research institutes like Fraunhofer Society and Universität Stuttgart. The first public releases and specification documents were consolidated around 2008 under the auspices of AutomationML e.V.. Subsequent development cycles incorporated input from industrial pilot projects involving Volkswagen, ZF Friedrichshafen, and ThyssenKrupp, and coordinated liaison with IEC Technical Committee 65 and ISO/TC 184 activities.

Technical Architecture and Data Model

AutomationML’s architecture is modular: it uses CAEX (IEC 62424) as the backbone for object semantics and hierarchical structure, couples with COLLADA for mesh and scene graph definitions, and integrates PLCopen XML for control logic and sequence representation. The AML container typically packages files using ZIP-based mechanisms alongside metadata that references vendor-specific extensions from Rockwell Automation or Schneider Electric. Key elements include role classes, internal elements, external interfaces, and attribute statements used by tools like EPLAN Electric P8, Siemens NX, and SolidWorks. The data model supports mapping between STEP-based product models commonly managed in Siemens Teamcenter or Dassault ENOVIA and runtime configurations consumed by Beckhoff controllers, enabling asset-centric engineering across Siemens S7 and Allen-Bradley ecosystems.

Use Cases and Applications

AutomationML is applied in factory engineering scenarios such as digital factory layouts for Volkswagen Konzern production lines, cell-level robot integration for KUKA, and automated assembly simulations used by Festo and ABB Robotics. It facilitates cross-domain handover from mechanical design in Autodesk Inventor to electrical schematics in EPLAN, and further to PLC programming in CoDeSys or Siemens TIA Portal. Other applications include virtual commissioning projects at Daimler Truck research centers, commissioning support at ThyssenKrupp Steel, and interoperability pilots with OPC Foundation-based infrastructures. AutomationML has been used to streamline data exchange in supply chain engineering involving ZF Friedrichshafen and Continental AG.

Implementation and Tooling

A growing ecosystem of converters, editors, and validators supports AutomationML. Commercial and open-source tools integrate with platforms such as Siemens Teamcenter, PTC Windchill, EPLAN Electric P8, and Tecnomatix Process Simulate. Vendors like Fraunhofer IIS research groups provide reference implementations and libraries, while companies including Phoenix Contact and Phoenix Contact Software provide plugins and middleware. Testbeds and demonstrators have been implemented at institutions such as RWTH Aachen University and Karlsruhe Institute of Technology to validate exchanges between PLCopen-based tooling and CAD suites from Dassault Systèmes and Autodesk. Integration often requires mapping layers for proprietary formats from Rockwell Automation or Mitsubishi Electric controllers.

Standards and Interoperability

AutomationML interoperates with a range of industrial standards: IEC 62424 (CAEX), SISO-aligned specifications, COLLADA for 3D, and PLCopen for PLC descriptions. Collaboration occurs with IEC TC65, ISO/TC 184/SC 4, and industry alliances such as OPC Foundation and Industry 4.0 Platform. Standardization efforts frequently reference product data standards like ISO 10303 (STEP) and link to asset administration models considered by International Electrotechnical Commission working groups. Certification and conformance initiatives are coordinated through AutomationML e.V. and partner organizations to promote vendor-neutral interoperability across ecosystems managed by Siemens, ABB, Bosch, and others.

Category:Industrial automation standards