Only a precise analysis of the entire system can decide whether the control system and the actuators of a machine are to be designed centralized or decentralized. A holistic mechatronical approach helps in finding the best solution.

As part of a case study, a DSP based control electronics has been designed and realized to examine different communication techniques and to elaborate the fundamentals for novel hardware architectures. Modern FPGA, that are more commonly known for their use as »glue logic«, now take over tasks in I/O processing and data preparation as well.