The Controller is a controlling device which is associated with one or more drives (axis). Related to the automation system, the Controller is the host for the overall automation (see [PI 3172 PDP], chapter 6.1.2).

The P-Device (peripheral device) is a field device and the host device for the Drives (closed loop control, converter). The P-Device typically is associated with one or more Controller devices (see [PI 3172 PDP], chapter 6.1.2).

The Supervisor typically is an engineering device which manages provisions of configuration data (parameter sets) and collections of diagnosis data from P-Devices and/or Controllers (see [PI 3172 PDP], chapter 6.1.2).

A Drive Unit is a part of a P-Device containing one or multiple Drive Objects (see [PI 3172 PDP], chapter 6.1.2).