The Intralogistics Automation Class Reunion: Four Insights from Four Years of AGV Mesh-Up

For the fourth consecutive year, the VDMA Association for Material Handling and Intralogistics invited professionals to the TEST CAMP INTRALOGISTICS in Dortmund in early April 2024. At the heart of the event was the high-performance communication interface, VDA 5050, which has enabled the AGV Mesh-Up for four years now. The showcase featured different mobile robots from various manufacturers interacting with a central control system.

This year, the SYNAOS Intralogistics Management Platform (IMP) once again took on the role of central fleet manager, orchestrating the robot spectacle during the TEST CAMP INTRALOGISTICS.

What are the insights and learnings after four years of AGV Mesh-Up? Which signals have been sent to the intralogistics world? And are events like this even necessary in the future? We spoke with Dr. Philipp Schäfers, Head of Partner Management & Business Development at SYNAOS, who has been involved from the start. He shares his Lessons Learnt from the past four live field trials of automated mobile robotics and speaks about the future of the VDA 5050 interface.

AGV Mesh-Up visitors realize: everything runs like clockwork

Over 1,200 visitors gathered in the Dortmund exhibition hall on both days. Many of them head straight to the AGV Mesh-Up area where mobile robots from eight different manufacturers zip around the 500 square meter track. Spectators witness various transport scenarios: automated undercarriage and fork lift robots pick up material, transport it, and unload it elsewhere. They share the shop floor, intersections, and transfer stations effortlessly, avoid obstacles dynamically.

Even someone who has had no previous involvement with mobile robotics and automated intralogistics will notice: the orchestration of robots on the track runs like a clockwork.

In the four years that Dr. Philipp Schäfers - Head of Partner Management & Business Development at SYNAOS - has been involved with the AGV Mesh-Ups and the development of the VDA 5050 standard, he has identified four key insights:

1. VDA 5050 is a standard that literally unites – Not only central fleet managers with heterogeneous mobile robot fleets, but also technologies, companies, and – most importantly – people. VDA 5050 is here to stay and continues to gain importance. Numerous customer projects utilizing VDA 5050 demonstrate that automated intralogistics is robust and reliable – and standardization is the key to achieving this.  

VDA 5050 is continuously evolving and has long shed its trial character. Moreover, the standard enables quick commissioning – especially when combined with cloud technologies and pre-simulation.

2. The regularly held AGV Mesh-Up brings the European industry closer together. This is crucial and becomes increasingly important due to global challenges such as labor shortages, supply chain crises, and competitive pressure from the Far East. We must focus on scaling the market for mobile robots through synergies and shared strategies.
Every year, new reputable participants join – in 2024, these included Jungheinrich and KUKA. The European community implementing VDA 5050 in active projects is steadily growing.

3. The direct dialogue during the AGV Mesh-Up between hardware and software providers with (potential) end-users is invaluable. Additionally, the AGV Mesh-Ups increase understanding regarding the VDA 5050 interface, expand its adoption, and strengthen its acceptance.
Collaboration during the event as well as within the diverse VDA 5050 working group is always exceptionally collaborative. Every year, all the accumulated experience from participating companies and the further development of the standard is fed back.

4. There is no comparable event anywhere in the world. The AGV Mesh-Up, held at least once a year, is a unique showcase that illustrates the potential of standardization in intralogistics. Each year, participants demonstrate the technical maturity and robustness of VDA 5050 anew. It enables annually changing, heterogeneous mobile robot fleets to handle various intralogistics transport tasks.

How Has the Communication Standard Developed Nationally and Internationally Since the First AGV Mesh-Up in 2021?

SYNAOS provided the central control system for the complex mixed fleet at the AGV Mesh-Up for the third time in 2024. "Since the first AGV Mesh-Up which took place four years ago, we’ve observed an interesting development," notes Dr. Philipp Schäfers. "In parallel with the number of mobile robots deployed at the AGV Mesh-Ups, interest in the VDA 5050 standard has also steadily increased since 2021. The growing influence of this annual class reunion of experienced intralogistics automators is a very positive sign and a development in the right direction, which we are very pleased about.”  

"At the same time, as early advocates of the VDA 5050 standard, we look back on four experience-rich years – both in terms of onboarding our many hardware partners in our growing network and regarding high-pressure scenarios like commissioning VDA 5050 fleets during showcases." A sudden need for a map swap during such a live event, which must happen quickly, doesn’t faze the seasoned expert.

Even the many skeptics and critics of the communication standard have opened up to the idea that SYNAOS has supported and driven from the start. They acknowledge VDA 5050’s market maturity and endorse its use.

"I am personally involved in each of our customer projects where VDA 5050 plays a central role. For example, there’s the relatively straightforward use case scenario with Schaeffler AG, or the record-breaking use case scenario with Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles, where our SYNAOS Intralogistics Management Platform controls the world's largest VDA 5050 fleet. The standard is also gaining traction in the FMCG sector. All of this makes it unmistakably clear: VDA 5050 has established itself in multiple industries, proves its effectiveness every day, and is gaining recognition even beyond EU borders."

SYNAOS is a proud member of this community and actively drives the development of the VDA 5050 interface. "In the future, the significance of such showcases will continue to grow and attract attention well beyond the borders of Europe," Schäfers notes.