Glossary · System coordination, integration and orchestration
Logical architecture
Also known as: logical system architecture
German: Logische Architektur
In systems engineering, a logical architecture is a description of a system as a set of logical components, their responsibilities and the interfaces between them, independent of the specific hardware, software products or technologies used to implement them.
- System integration
In one sentence
A logical architecture describes a system as logical components with responsibilities and interfaces, independent of specific technologies.
Example
The logical architecture of a palletizing cell has components for order management, pattern calculation, robot motion, safety monitoring and HMI, before any controller or product is chosen.
How it applies
- Systems engineering: The logical architecture bridges functions and physical implementation. Functions are allocated to logical components; logical components are later allocated to physical elements.
- Reuse: A stable logical architecture can survive technology changes: a new controller generation replaces physical elements without changing the logical structure.
- Documentation: System descriptions for integrators and service staff often benefit from a logical view, because it explains responsibilities without device details. Keep the logical view and the physical view consistent and label clearly which one a diagram shows.
Logical vs. functional architecture
The Functional architecture describes what the system does as functions and flows. The logical architecture groups those functions into components with interfaces. Both are independent of specific technologies; the physical architecture is not.