Systems and methods involving graphically displaying control systems

A method for displaying a graphical representation of a physical control system, the method comprising:

• receiving in a processor a function block diagram file including a function block defining a logic process to be executed by the physical control system;
• receiving in the processor an animation instruction associated with the function block;
• receiving system data in a system controller, the system data indicative of a physical state of the physical control system, the system controller processing the system data using the logic process defined by the function block diagram file and outputting a control signal to the physical control system based on the processing using the logic process;
• receiving the system data in the processor;
• receiving in the processor a first graphic displaying the logic process from a function block library;
• processing with the processor the first graphic and the system data according to the animation instruction to render an updated first graphic reflecting the systems data;
• and
• displaying the function block and the rendered updated first graphic associated with the logic process on a display.