Control of real machine and virtual machine

A controller configured to control a first machine as a controlled object in a real space, the controller comprising circuitry configured to:

• receive one or more communications, including operational information of a second controlled object that is controlled by a second controller;
• determine, in response to receiving at least one of the one or more communications, whether the second controlled object is a second machine that operates in the real space, or a virtual second machine that simulates operations of the second machine in a virtual space;
• control the first machine, in response to said determination that the second controlled object of the second controller is the second machine that operates in the real space, by executing a process to:
• obtain, from the real space, a set of real data including a status of a workpiece in the real space;
• and
• operate the first machine based on both the set of real data and the operational information of the second controlled object received from the second controller, so that both the first machine and the second machine operate on the workpiece in the real space;
• and
• control the first machine, in response to said determination that the second controlled object of the second controller is the virtual second machine that operates in the virtual space, by executing a modified process to:
• operate the first machine in the real space based, at least in part, on the operational information of the second controlled object received from the second controller, so that the first machine operates in the real space without the set of real data when the modified process is executed by the first controller.