New version of VDA 5050 published

• The new version of VDA 5050, 2.1.0, enhances communication for mobile robots with higher autonomy and integrates in-house material transportation.

• Key updates include the introduction of corridors for obstacle avoidance, revised illustrations for clarity, and removing minor ambiguities.

• VDA 5050 is now published exclusively in English and remains backward compatible with version 2.0.0.

• The update is publicly available on GitHub, where users can download associated software and provide feedback for ongoing development.

• The VDA and VDMA, supported by the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, have been continuously developing VDA 5050 since 2019 to meet market needs and technical advancements.

• Industry leaders like BMW and Schaeffler highlight the importance of VDA 5050 in integrating AGVs and benefiting from the latest intralogistics innovations.

Under the project management of VDA and VDMA: The new version of the VDA 5050 communication interface implements important enhancements for mobile robots with a higher degree of autonomy as well as feedback from the public GitHub.

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The German Association of the Automotive Industry (VDA) and the VDMA Materials Handling and Intralogistics Association have published an update of VDA 5050. Version 2.1.0 integrates in-house material transportation with various mobile robots and a master control. With the help of the open interface protocol, the commissioning and operation of heterogeneous fleets in parallel operation can be implemented flexibly and in line with requirements. VDA 5050 standardizes the communication between the control system and the vehicles.

A significant change compared to the previous version 2.0.0 is the introduction of corridors for mobile robots in which they can freely avoid obstacles or similar. Vehicles with a higher degree of autonomy can thus make better use of their navigation capabilities. In addition, the illustrations contained in the document have been revised for easier and better understanding and various minor ambiguities have been removed. For the first time, VDA 5050 is being published exclusively in English. The version is backwards compatible to 2.0.0.

VDA 5050 is publicly available in a GitHub repository. Associated software elements can also be downloaded there. In the discussion forum, users can contribute their feedback, which is regularly reviewed and discussed by the VDA 5050 core team and thus incorporated into further development.

Consistent further development

Since the publication of the first version of the interface protocol in 2019, intralogistics providers and users, particularly from the automotive and supplier industry, have been working intensively on the further development and optimization of VDA 5050. The joint working group of VDA and VDMA, which is supported by the Institute for Materials Handling and Logistics Systems (IFL) at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), regularly discusses which extensions and adaptations would be desirable for the interface. For example, the characteristics of mobile robots with greater autonomy are playing an increasingly important role in the future design of VDA 5050.

VDA Managing Director Marcus Bollig:

"As the 'conductor of the factory floor', the VDA 5050 interface is a driver of competition and competitiveness. With the update to VDA 2.1.0 that has now been published, it continues to be a pioneer on the road to factory floor automation and a driver for more efficient processes, greater safety and sustainable implementation of automated guided vehicles."

Sascha Schmel, Managing Director of the VDMA Materials Handling and Intralogistics Association:

"VDA 5050 has been continuously developed over the last five years in line with specific market requirements and project experience. This bottom-up approach will of course remain the credo in the future. VDA 5050 changes with the technical possibilities of the vehicles and with the internal transport processes of the user industries."

Andreas Steiner, Head of Industrialisation Logistics Innovations and Logistics Planning for the BMW Group plants in Dingolfing and Debrecen:

"The BMW Group has played an active role in the project group for the development of VDA 5050 since it was founded, which is expressed in particular by the fact that it has chaired the working group for several years. The results flow directly into the further development of logistics at the BMW Group. In addition to existing integrations of various types of transport robots from different manufacturers based on VDA 5050, further automated guided vehicles (AGVs) are currently being integrated at BMW. The use of VDA 5050 is a mandatory prerequisite for this. The use of VDA 5050 enables the BMW Group to integrate new AGV types significantly faster, with less risk and at lower cost. The current publication represents another important milestone on the way to a fully comprehensive VDA 5050."

Tim Menapace, Software Architect in Operations IT at Schaeffler:

"VDA 5050 enables the Schaeffler Group to always benefit from the latest innovations in the field of intralogistics, regardless of the manufacturer. With the latest version 2.1.0, the standard takes another step forward and makes it possible to make better use of autonomous vehicle functionalities. As a global automotive and industrial supplier, the Schaeffler Group always strives to use and contribute to innovative standards. The VDA 5050 therefore also has the full support of Schaeffler."