The modelling starts with the creation of an instance of the AutomationComponentType SystemUnitClass (SUC). This type is part of the OPC UA FX AML Core Libraries. One way of doing this is to directly instantiate the AutomationComponentType SUC. This is shown in Figure F.2.

A more convenient way is to start from a vendor-specific subtype of the AutomationComponentType SUC, which provides product-related data and structure in the type. This requires that the Controller vendor provides a vendor-specific OPC UA FX AML library.

Figure F.2 – Instantiation of the SUC AutomationComponentType

The top level of the AutomationComponent instance contains important Variables for product data:

• ConformanceName: Provides the URL to the product’s listing on the OPC Foundation website under which the result of the conformance test can be found;
• ComponentCapabilities: Describes limits on the functionality provided by an AutomationComponent (e.g., number of supported logical connections, etc.);
• PublisherCapabilities and SubscriberCapabilities: Limits on the AutomationComponent for the communication functions.