MOTION CONTROL SYSTEMS USING COMMUNICATION MAP TO FACILITATING COMMUNICATION WITH MOTION CONTROL HARDWARE

A system and method for facilitating communication between an application program and underlying motion control hardware in a hardware independent manner. A communication map maps a generic grid of mapping information cells to the actual information cells implemented by the particular hardware. Each actual information cell may be located in different areas and may transfer different values on each hardware platform. The communication map allows common functions to be used across a plurality of supported hardware device implementations.