The traditional process for designing embedded machine control systems typically involves multiple stages of development, each requiring specialized electronic design automation (EDA) tools, such as state-diagram and flowcharting tools, SPICE circuit simulation, board layout and routing, control design tools, finite element analysis (FEA), C and VHDL languages, multiple target specific compilers, and human-machine interface (HMI) tools. New highly automated graphical system design (GSD) tools and programmable automation controller (PAC) hardware systems can help you streamline the machine control development process.