AutomationView is under active development. This page gives you a clear picture of what's already in the tool, what we're working on right now, and where we're headed.
AutomationView already provides a solid foundation for automation programming and simulation:
Draw your Grafcet or SFC diagram on paper, take a photo or scan it, and let AutomationView convert it into a fully editable digital sequence. This bridges the gap between whiteboard design sessions and your actual project - no need to manually recreate what you've already sketched out. Ideal for quickly digitizing legacy documentation or classroom exercises.
AutomationView is expanding its export and integration capabilities to cover a wide range of industrial platforms. The goal is to generate deployment-ready code directly from your sequences, targeting each platform's native format.
| Platform | Status |
|---|---|
| Generic IEC 61131-3 | In development |
| CODESYS | In development |
| Siemens S7 (TIA Portal) | Planned |
| Schneider Electric (EcoStruxure) | Planned |
| Beckhoff (TwinCAT) | Planned |
| Allen-Bradley (Studio 5000) | Planned |
| Omron (Sysmac Studio) | Planned |
| Mitsubishi (GX Works) | Planned |
Where applicable, export will generate platform-specific project files alongside the program code, so you can import directly into each vendor's engineering environment.
Convert your sequences to Structured Text, Ladder Diagram, and Function Block Diagram with a single click. Each output language will include a dedicated editor with syntax highlighting, code completion, and diagnostics. This means you can design in whichever representation feels natural and produce output in the format your target platform or team requires.
Define your own structural and safety rules for automated diagnostics. For example, you can set up a rule that flags conflicting actuator states - like two opposing cylinders being activated at the same time - that could lead to equipment damage or a crash. Rules run during simulation and design, catching problems early before they reach the shop floor.
Test motor-driven systems directly inside AutomationView without connecting to physical hardware. The built-in motor emulation model lets you validate start/stop sequences, direction changes, speed profiles, and fault conditions as part of your simulation. This is especially useful for conveyor systems, pumps, and any application where motor behavior drives the process logic.
Get an automatically generated 2D schematic view of your automation system during simulation. Watch conveyors move, valves open, and indicators toggle in real time as your sequence runs. This visual layer sits on top of your project and updates live, giving you an intuitive way to monitor and debug machine behavior without reading raw variable tables.
Connect AutomationView directly to a physical PLC for live monitoring, testing, and deployment. This hardware-in-the-loop capability allows you to run your simulation against real IO - validating your program with actual sensor inputs and actuator feedback before a full commissioning. Particularly valuable for hybrid testing scenarios where part of the system is physical and part is simulated.
We are continuously refining the interface and expanding user capabilities based on real-world feedback. This includes improvements to variable monitoring, trending displays, IO state visualization, and the overall editing workflow. If something feels clunky or missing, there's a good chance it's already on our list.
AI-assisted automation programming - describe what your machine should do in plain language, and AutomationView generates the corresponding sequence program. This will serve as a starting point that you refine and validate, not a replacement for engineering judgment.
Real-time collaborative editing for distributed engineering teams. Multiple engineers will be able to work on the same project simultaneously, with changes synchronized across all participants.
Have an idea or a specific need? We'd love to hear from you. Get in touch through automationview.app.