1. An apparatus for automated control of a system having a plurality of cooperating components involving controlled elements and sensors, the apparatus comprising: a simulator configured to simulate operation of said components, said simulator storing data representing states of said components and configured to modify said states over time in accordance with simulated operation of said system; an input module receiving data from at least said sensors and configured to update in said simulator said data representing states of said components; and an output module reading from said simulator said data representing states of said components and configured to generate at least controlled element control signals for said controlled elements of said components, wherein said simulator contains a virtual state machine representing said system, and automation of said system is achieved without state machine logic representing said system within said input module and said output module.