In order to handle the complexity of software for automation systems of larger scale in manufacturing nowadays procedural-oriented (e.g. SCR, RTSA) and object-oriented methods (OOD, OOA, OMT) are used. Within the latter alternative we developed an object-and service-oriented approach to cope with problems of complexity and to ease and accelerate the software design process. In this paper we present our service-based concept, give a possible definition of basic services and discuss experiences made in an application example of a production cell.

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Within this paper we investigate some of the issues of carrying out the ECBS development process according to a laying down of systems theories and architectures using the case studies of a production cell automation and autonomous transport systems.

Automation and control systems consist of an increasing amount of complex hardware and software. They are difficult to handle due to hard real time restrictions and intensive interaction with the environment. Faced with short product life cycles, the need for appropriate design methods for distributed real-time systems in this application field arises. In this paper we discuss an engineering methodology based on an object-oriented approach and basic services. A rapid-prototyping environment using an open system architecture concept which we developed to cope with the problems of complex control systems is presented. The aspect of task allocation under real time constraints in combination with determining an adequate hardware architecture is analysed.