Fraunhofer Institute for Cognitive Systems IKSAutomation software is made up of many smaller subcomponents that operate at different levels of complexity. For example, the lowest-level software controls sensors and actuators that interact with the physical world, while the highest-level software controls the overall infrastructure, such as enterprise resource planning systems in manufacturing. Structuring the software in a functional and maintainable way is key to the smooth operation of the system.
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Flexible and Reliable Software Service Platform
Challenge: Balancing Flexibility and Reliability
- A key challenge in implementing complex workflow automation software systems is balancing the need for flexibility with the need for reliable performance.
- For example, this means considering where to deploy system subcomponents while ensuring low-latency communication between subcomponents.
- This tension also extends to the dimension of system maintenance. For example, it should be easy to modify the functionality of the system. At the same time, it should be possible to redeploy the modified parts independently.
Need: Service-Oriented Architecture
- A service-oriented architecture can be used to provide this level of flexibility.
- In this paradigm, robotic process automation software is modularly packaged as a series of tools and services. These can then be deployed independently onto the desired hosts.
- The services work together to perform more complex tasks.
Solution: Automation Software Service Platform
A platform for managing the deployment and monitoring of services is crucial, as it ensures that they work together smoothly. This approach provides the basis for mechanisms such as deployment planning, which is used to minimize the latency in service communication. It also dynamically updates services as the state of the overall system changes.