US Patent 7406404 Method for developing a machine

In a method for developing a machine for producing a product, properties of the product to be produced are defined and tasks to be performed for producing the product are defined. The tasks are subdivided into a plurality of sub-tasks, and, based on the sub-tasks, an algorithm is established for producing the product in a virtual model, wherein hardware and control functions are established simultaneously. A machine that implements the algorithm and the control functions can then be constructed, with the control functions implemented as reconfigurable hardware.