New revolution in Autonomous Mobile Robots (AMR) based on VDA 5050

(Compliant with VDA5050 version 1.1, June 2020)

Autonomous Mobile Robots (AMR) play a vital role in many industrial segments, especially in Automotive Logistics. A mobile robot is a free agent as opposed to a stationary robot. These robots often perform transport of goods in warehouse, or they are used in such plants as in automotive. An AMR robot communicates with other multivendor robotized platforms and driverless transport systems (DTS) by using VDA 5050 protocol. This interface was introduced as a cooperation result between the Verband der Automobileindustrie e.V. (VDA) and Verband Deutscher Maschinen-und Anlagenbau e.V. (VDMA). The main goal for standardization was establishing a communication with any AMR robot, which is VDA 5050 ready.

The aim of the article describes how it could be possible to manage any AMR with our unique product Resource Management IO (for more information go to resmanio.com and for the real demo ask our team on email resmanio@solutia.cz and go to resman.io). Nowadays many AMR vendors want to deliver solution which is managing their AMR, but unfortunately there is no unified solution which can be affordable for a customer which allows to manage all AMR from single platform. Therefore, we introduced resman.io as unique and unified solution which is affordable to any customer and which can manage any AMR in customer’s plant environment. This principle simplifies the implementation of different vendors management software for their AGV (Autonomous Guided Vehicle) or AMR (Autonomous Mobile Robots) and their integration with application resman.io.

Key Resmanio functionalities in terms of VDA 5050:

Establishes standardized real-time communication between different AMR/AGV
Unlimited number of AMR depends on Floor plan size
Enabling integration of any AMR/AGV vehicles VDA 5050 compliant not just those delivered by one vendor as well as different degrees of AMR autonomy
Enable decision with regards to the selection of routes or the behaviour at intersection by using resman.io Collision Prevention System (resman.io CPS)
Vendor unlocked system and AMR/AGV platform, independent
Real-time application (https://www.resman.io) for AMR/AGV Management
VDA 5050 enabled as the standard interface for all kind of autonomous robots not only in Automotive
Based on the inbuilt Collision Prevention System (CPS) system allows safe operation in defined Floor Plan Production
The system enables instant order rerouting, order priority, order reorganization
No predefined path but the proposed way is AI/ML system result
The very high flexibility of route planning and AMR/AGV Management
Plug & Play capabilities put any VDA 5050 compliant vehicle immediately in cooperation

This interface was designed based on requirements to connect production plants and logistics in the automotive industry. The VDA 5050 protocol enables the communication between driverless, autonomous robots (AMR/AGV) and resman.io as controlling centre. Also, this interface represents a kind of standard in the automotive industry.

Based on Messaging Queuing (MQTT) standard, resman.io instructs AMR/AGV, or these vehicles send a notification to controlling centre resman.io. Different types of messages we are calling topics. Besides, everything goes in a real time manner, thanks to resman.io technology and architecture design.

AGVPosition.msg	Defines the position on a map in world coordinates. Each floor has its own map.
Action.msg	Action the AGV can perform.
ActionParameter.msg	Key, Value parameters.
BatteryInformation.msg	State of Charge, Battery Voltage, State of Health, etc.
BoundingBoxReference.msg	Point of reference for the location of the bounding box.
ControlPoint.msg	X, Y coordinates described in the world coordinate system.
CurrentAction.msg	Action Id, addition information on the current action, waiting, initializing, running, finished, failed.
Edge.msg	Directional connection between two nodes.
EdgeState.msg	Unique edge identification.
Error.msg	Type, name of error, error description.
ErrorReference.msg	References the type of reference (e.g. headerId, orderId, actionId) and references the value the reference key.
Header.msg	Header ID of the message. The headerId is defined per topic and incremented by 1 with each sent (but not necessarily received) message.
InstantActions.msg	List of actions to execute.
Load.msg	Indicates load handling/carrying, dimension of the load’s bounding box in meters, absolute weight of the load measures in kg.
LoadDimensions.msg	Dimensions of the load’s bounding box in meters.
Node.msg	Array of nodes to be traversed for fulfilling the order
NodePosition.msg	Defines the position on a map in world coordinates. Each floor has its own map.
NodeState.msg	Array of nodes to be traversed for fulfilling the order
Order.msg	Order information, headerId, topic and incremented by 1, timestamp, version, manufacturer, serial number, unique order id, array of nodes, array of edges.
OrderInformation.msg	Information about the order.
SafetyStatus.msg	Enum {autoAck, manual, remote, none} Acknowledge-Type of eStop: autoAck: autoacknowledgeable e-stop is activated e.g. by bumper or protective field manual: e-stop has to be acknowledged manually at the vehicle remote: facility estop has to be acknowledged remotely none: no e-stop activated.
Trajectory.msg	Points defining a spline. Theta allows holonomic vehicles to rotate along the trajectory.
Velocity.msg	Forward velocity, sideway, rotational.
Visualization.msg	HeaderId, Timestamp, Version of the protocol, Manufacturer, Serial Number, The AGV position, The AGV’s velocity in vehicle coordinates.

About the Author: Martin Štufi

Martin Stufi got the BSc, MSc degrees in computer science at the University of Nis, Serbia. He is studying PhD at Faculty of Electronic Engineering at University Nis (Computer Science Department). Also, he is working as Project Founder, Solution Architect and Technology Advisor in privately held company Solutia, s.r.o. in Prague, Czech Republic. His research’s interests in computer science are in developing and implementing Enterprise Information Systems based on modern technology like Big Data, Spark & Scala, IoT, Project and Program Management. He is the holder of PRINCE2®, ITILv3, TOGAF (L2), MCP, Ethical hacking certificates and he is also the holder of the certificate in Project Management and Project Portfolio Management.