Apparatus and method for controlling an automated installation

A method for controlling an automated installation having a timer and having a plurality of physically distributed controllers that are connected to one another via a communication network and include at least a first controller and a second controller, wherein the first controller has a first local clock and cyclically executes a number of first control tasks that are used to control at least one first local actuator, wherein the second controller has a second local clock and cyclically executes a number of second control tasks that are used to control at least one second local actuator, wherein the first and second controllers each have a synchronization service that is used to synchronize the respective local clocks to a common reference clock, and wherein the timer repeatedly sends a trigger message to the first and second controllers, the method comprising the following steps:

• the first controller, on receiving the trigger message, determines a first local time and sends it to the second controller,
• the second controller, on receiving the trigger message, determines a second local time and sends it to the first controller,
• the first and second controllers each determine a difference between the first and second local times, and
• the first controller controls the first local actuator on the basis of the difference and the second controller controls the second local actuator on the basis of the difference.

A computer program product comprising program code stored on a non-transitory data storage medium and configured to carry out a method for controlling an automated installation having a timer and having a plurality of physically distributed controllers that are connected to one another via a communication network and include at least a first controller and a second controller, wherein the first controller has a first local clock and cyclically executes a number of first control tasks that are used to control at least one first local actuator, wherein the second controller has a second local clock and cyclically executes a number of second control tasks that are used to control at least one second local actuator, wherein the first and second controllers each have a synchronization service that is used to synchronize the respective local clocks to a common reference clock, and wherein the timer repeatedly sends a trigger message to the first and second controllers, the method comprising the following steps:

• the first controller, on receiving the trigger message, determines a first local time and sends it to the second controller,
• the second controller, on receiving the trigger message, determines a second local time and sends it to the first controller,
• the first and second controllers each determine a difference between the first and second local times, and
• the first controller controls the first local actuator on the basis of the difference and the second controller controls the second local actuator on the basis of the difference.