ABSTRACT
During Digital Transformation, an increasing part of machine functionality is moving into electronics and software: With increasing demands on functional safety, assistance systems and autonomy, software is becoming the most expensive part in development of new machines. Therefore, identical software needs to be reused in as many machines or components as possible. This paper shows practical approaches to a modern, function based and modular system design mirroring the component based software approach into the machine’s structural concept. Prior to any traditional construction work, this comprises of an overall cross competence functional design, and a detail design using multi criteria decision making techniques followed by a detail design and implementation, whereas all digital systems are implemented simultaneously to the mechanic design. This assures that there is sufficient time for software implementation and the risk of surprises, redesign and delay during start up is very limited.
