The invention relates to an automation system having a number of objects to to be controlled, wherein the automation system comprises a framework based controller (21) for controlling basic functions (23) of at least one object of the number of objects by means of object-specific functional units (25), wherein the controller (21) is configured independently of the object, and comprises standardized interfaces (26) for the communicative incorporation of the object-specific functional units (25) by means of preconfigured functional requests, wherein each functional unit (25) is associated with at least one of the objects and configured for actuating the respective basic function (23) of the respectively associated object by means of object-specific control functions, wherein each object of the number of objects may be virtualized in the controller (21) by means of the associated object-specific functional units (25), and the objects of the number of objects respond and can be controlled by means of the object-specific functional units (25) during at least one operating state of the automation system exclusively by the framework based controller (21), and each of the functional units (25) comprises one simulation module having at least one simulation function integrated in the respective functional unit (25), and may optionally be configured for carrying out the object-specific control function or for carrying out the at least one simulation function. The invention further provides a method for testing an automation system having a framework based controller, and a method for the framework based controlling of a respective automation system.