Anyone Looking to Automate Intralogistics Can’t Ignore VDA 5050 and Interoperability

Text: Julian Borchert-al-Huribi

Visitors to this year’s Mobile Robotics & Logistics Summit in Düsseldorf were treated to an exclusive technology spectacle: the Mobile Robotics Integration Zone. The futuristic name lived up to its promise. Industry professionals gathered around the 432-square-meter driving area to witness a seamless interoperability orchestra of hardware, software, and shop floor infrastructure. The invisible stars of the ensemble were the SYNAOS Intralogistics Management Platform (IMP) and the VDA 5050 communication interface.

Similar showcases are organized at other events, too – such as the AGV Mesh-Up at Dortmund's IFOY TEST CAMP INTRALOGISTICS or during the Automatica in Munich. However, each one tends to focus on a different aspect, varying in fleet size and process simulation. In previous years, the emphasis was on increasing the number of mobile robots in heterogeneous showcase fleets and demonstrating increasingly complex production scenarios. This year, however, the organizers of the Mobile Robotics Integration Zone chose to spotlight AGV-to-AGV interactions, introducing inductive battery charging stations and a shelf storage system for the first time. This marked a new level of interoperability.

True Interoperability: The Future of Intralogistics with VDA 5050

"Showcases like this foster knowledge exchange and collaboration across the industry,” says Dr. Philipp Schäfers, Head of Partner Management & Business Development at SYNAOS. He stands close to the ankle-high plywood barrier right next to the driving area, which resembles an authentic warehouse and production zone, hands on his hips as he keeps a steady watch on the constant movement of forklifts, underdrive AGVs, and tugger trucks. Schäfers has been involved in the project from the beginning. “What makes this showcase so fascinating is that we can see true interoperability in action. Here, individual automated and autonomous systems combine to create a cooperative intralogistics scenario where systems don’t just operate side-by-side — they complement each other’s functions seamlessly. There’s no friction whatsoever: automated material supply from the storage system, transport and direct handovers of materials even from one mobile robot to another, and inductive in-process battery charging.”

Showcases like this one resonated strongly in today's climate, “where manufacturing companies are realizing that a universal communication interface like VDA 5050 is essential. It’s the only way to flexibly manage the growing diversity of mixed robot fleets."

VDA 5050: Seamless Integration and Interoperability in Intralogistics

‍

What the audience witnessed here was a seamless orchestration of robots from six different manufacturers — Safelog, Still, Kuka, Item, Fraunhofer IML, and Bluepath Robotics — working in harmony with shop floor infrastructure, all coordinated by a central management software. “We’re seeing extensive AGV-to-AGV interaction: on the one hand, robots from different manufacturers are transporting the same loads; on the other, automated forklifts are directly loading other transport robots. And all of them are sharing the same pathways.”

The traffic management of the SYNAOS IMP ensured, via the VDA 5050 communication standard, that no traffic jams occurred. “Our platform simultaneously supports multiple versions of VDA 5050, enabling the quick integration of our partners' diverse mobile robots — each with its respective VDA 5050 version — into a unified fleet. This setup also includes a fully automated shelving system by Volume Lagersysteme and two inductive charging stations from Wiferion.”

Schäfers points to a silver aluminum plate in one corner of the driving area, framed on three sides by a black steel structure. Nearby, a sign reads Wiferion – Think Wireless. A Safelog robot, currently transporting a pallet, makes its way to the charging area, slowly rolls onto the platform, halts, and starts blinking. “Look over there right now on the inductive charging platform, the robot is charging in-process while actively performing a handover.”

Automation as a Global Megatrend: Interoperability Through VDA 5050

The standard that allows mobile robots from different manufacturers to communicate with a central control system has become widely established in recent years, particularly where internal transport depends on a heterogeneous robot fleet. Starting from locations within German companies, the standard has been gaining traction internationally, quickly rising in popularity outside Europe.

Showcase scenarios such as the Mobile Robotics Integration Zone foster not only the exchange of ideas and collaboration but also drive innovation within the industry, says Anita Würmser, founder of the Logistics Hall of Fame and chair of the IFOY AWARD jury. “Logistics is highly innovative and deserves to show it. The more complex a topic becomes, the more essential showcases like these are to experience the innovation firsthand.” She fondly recalls the first IFOY TEST CAMP INTRALOGISTICS in 2021, where 650 guests gathered in Dortmund to witness the first AGV Mesh-Up and the VDA 5050 interface live. “After that, everyone understood what  VDA 5050 is all about. These showcases indicate where the journey is heading, giving both providers and users a sense of how they can participate in this innovation.”

Automation is a megatrend that cannot be stopped. “If I have an AGV fleet, I may want to add a sweeping robot or other autonomous devices to the fleet. The best way to achieve this is through open interfaces. VDA 5050, as a shared communication interface for cross-company, autonomous operation, is a critical first step in this direction.”

One company that has embraced the winds of change is Schaeffler. For this automotive giant, a pioneer in motion technology for nearly 80 years and a bold trailblazer of technical innovation, automating intralogistics is a top priority. Mobile robotics already plays a pivotal role in more and more Schaeffler plants, where AGV and AMR fleets support automated material flows.

Other industries like Food & Beverage and Pharmaceuticals are following suit with intralogistics automation such as Germany’s bread and baked goods market leader, Harry Brot, who has just automated intralogistics transports within their production facilities.

The Future of VDA 5050: Focus on Free Autonomous Robot Navigation

Juliane Kluge, a specialist for material handling and intralogistics at VDMA, oversees communications around VDA 5050 and coordinates the working groups advancing the standard’s development both in content and technology. Standing beside the driving area, she shares insights from the VDA 5050 practice: “Collaboration among a wide range of players is crucial, as no single entity can tackle the technological challenges of our time alone. For example, no one company can manage the issue of interoperability on its own. VDA 5050 is being developed with precise attention to market needs on both the user and supplier sides.”

As an open-source project hosted on GitHub, VDA 5050 fosters transparency and builds trust. To date, there are four versions of the VDA 5050 open-source standard, with the next version currently under development. “The core team is already working on the first details for the upcoming Version 3.0,” Kluge reveals. “A key focus is on a zone concept that will make autonomous navigation significantly easier for mobile robots. We’re seeing an increasing demand for vehicles capable of free navigation.”

Orchestrating the Robotic Fleet with the Power of the AWS Cloud

Dr. Philipp Schäfers now stands on the opposite side of the driving area. Next to him is a row of tables where several SYNAOS software developers and technicians monitor the fully automated scenario on their screens. A day before the Mobile Robotics & Logistics Summit opened its doors to industry professionals, he was already involved in setting up the individual systems for the Mobile Robotics Integration Zone.

“Within just a few hours, we brought the setup, including the mobile robots, the storage system, and the charging stations, online and integrated it into the AWS cloud instance of our SYNAOS IMP,” he explains. “Then it was time for fine-tuning. The speed of the setup was possible because all of our showcase partners' mobile robots were already VDA 5050-compliant. This demonstrates two key points: that the future success of automated intralogistics will rely on the rapid adaptability of systems and on collaborative partnerships.”

In his advisory role, Schäfers regularly engages with logistics decision-makers and frequently advises them: “Only those who integrate standardization and interoperability early in their automation strategy lay the groundwork for sustainable success. This becomes crucial when scaling up, or when scaling is part of future plans. Otherwise, many projects struggle in the initial phase or need to be restarted at great expense. A standardized communication interface like VDA 5050 is the key to enabling interoperability for automated and autonomous transport, paving the way for the intralogistics of tomorrow.”

Are you ready to experience 'True Interoperability'? Reach out to one of our experts and put your automation goals into action.

‍