Method and system for controlling a machine by executing program steps which verifiably execute predefined control tasks

A control apparatus for controlling a machine by executing program steps which verifiably execute predefined control tasks comprising:

• a data processing unit configured to manipulate data based on input data received from the machine and resulting in reference data by data program steps structured according to a declarative programming paradigm;
• and
• a control processing unit configured to perform control program steps verifying the reference data with respect to explicit conditions and providing instructions resulting from the performed control program steps to the machine
• for execution of instructions by the machine, wherein conditions are explicitly stated rules applied to reference data, the rule is continuously monitored by the control processing unit and any violation of the rule results in a specified action.