Automation Studio
Automation Studio is a unified engineering software environment that provides a single tool for controlling, visualizing, and configuring all your industrial automation components and robotic systems in one place.
VTScada
VTScada is an all-in-one monitoring and control software providing industrial automation solutions with built-in redundancy, historical data logging, and remote access to keep your critical infrastructure systems running reliably.
Quick Comparison
| Feature | Automation Studio | VTScada |
|---|---|---|
| Website | br-automation.com | trihedral.com |
| Pricing Model | Custom | Freemium |
| Starting Price | Custom Pricing | Free |
| FREE Trial | ✓ 90 days free trial | ✘ No free trial |
| Free Plan | ✘ No free plan | ✓ Has free plan |
| Product Demo | ✓ Request demo here | ✓ Request demo here |
| Deployment | ||
| Integrations | ||
| Target Users | ||
| Target Industries | ||
| Customer Count | 0 | 0 |
| Founded Year | 1979 | 1986 |
| Headquarters | Eggelsberg, Austria | Bedford, Canada |
Overview
Automation Studio
Automation Studio is the integrated engineering environment for B&R automation components. You can manage every aspect of your machine's lifecycle—from controller programming and drive configuration to HMI design and safety functions—within a single workspace. This unified approach eliminates the need to switch between different tools, helping you reduce development time and maintain consistency across your entire hardware fleet.
You can develop complex applications using standard languages like C, C++, or IEC 61131-3 while simulating your entire machine in a virtual environment before any hardware arrives. This allows you to catch errors early and optimize performance without risking physical equipment. Whether you are building high-speed packaging lines or complex robotic cells, the platform provides the modularity you need to scale your designs efficiently.
VTScada
VTScada provides you with a unified platform for industrial monitoring and control, eliminating the need for separate databases or third-party add-ons. You can manage everything from simple HMI interfaces to massive, multi-server systems across water, energy, and manufacturing sectors. The software integrates all core SCADA components—like polling, trending, and alarm management—into a single installation that stays synchronized across your entire network.
You can build your applications once and deploy them anywhere, whether you are working on a local workstation or accessing your system via a mobile device. It solves the headache of complex system integration by including features like an internal historian and automatic failover as standard components. This approach ensures your critical data remains protected and your operations stay online without the typical configuration hurdles of traditional automation tools.
Overview
Automation Studio Features
- Unified Engineering Configure your controllers, drives, HMI, and safety components in one environment to ensure total system compatibility.
- Hardware Simulation Test your code on a virtual twin of your machine to identify bugs and optimize cycles without physical hardware.
- Multi-Language Support Write your logic in C, C++, or any IEC 61131-3 language to match your team's existing programming expertise.
- Modular Software Architecture Create reusable software components that you can easily deploy across different machine variants to save development time.
- Integrated Diagnostics Access real-time system data and trace variables remotely to troubleshoot performance issues and minimize machine downtime.
- Visual HMI Design Build modern, web-based operator interfaces using drag-and-drop tools that look great on any industrial touch screen.
VTScada Features
- Instant Replication. Keep your entire system synchronized automatically across multiple servers so your data and configuration are always up to date.
- Built-in Historian. Store and retrieve years of process data without purchasing or configuring a separate SQL database or third-party historian.
- Idea Studio. Create professional-grade operator interfaces using a drag-and-drop editor with over 4,000 high-resolution graphics and themed symbols.
- Automatic Failover. Configure redundant servers with a few clicks to ensure your system stays operational even if a primary server fails.
- VTScada Thin Clients. Access your full application securely from any web browser or mobile device with no loss of functionality or performance.
- Alarm Management. Manage critical alerts with a built-in notification system that supports text-to-speech, email, and SMS for immediate response.
Pricing Comparison
Automation Studio Pricing
VTScada Pricing
- Up to 50 I/O tags
- Full feature set included
- Internal historian and trending
- Remote access capabilities
- Free for personal or commercial use
- Everything in LIGHT, plus:
- Scalable tag counts (up to millions)
- Multi-server redundancy support
- Full technical support access
- Custom driver development options
Pros & Cons
Automation Studio
Pros
- Single environment for all hardware components
- Excellent simulation capabilities reduce commissioning time
- Supports standard high-level programming languages
- Highly stable performance for complex machinery
Cons
- Steep learning curve for new users
- Proprietary to B&R hardware ecosystems
- Documentation can be dense for beginners
VTScada
Pros
- All-in-one installation eliminates complex third-party software integrations
- Extremely reliable redundancy and automatic failover capabilities
- Excellent technical support from knowledgeable automation experts
- Backward compatibility ensures easy upgrades for older systems
Cons
- Scripting language has a learning curve for new users
- Graphics library can feel overwhelming due to many options
- Initial configuration requires time to master advanced features