Open solution for heterogeneous fleets

The ACTIVE Fleet Manager (AFM) from Bosch Rexroth seamlessly integrates the autonomous mobile robots (AMR) ACTIVE Shuttle and A-MATE® FreeLift from K.Hartwall into joint transport tasks via the standard VDA 5050 interface. This means that users can cover the in-house range of transport tasks from small load carriers to larger and heavier loads up to 1,000 kg using consistently coordinated automation. K.Hartwall, a globally established provider of automated guided vehicle systems (AGVs) and mobile robots with around 1,500 customers, uses the ROKIT Locator localization software and the ROKIT Navigator navigation software from Bosch Rexroth in its A-MATE® FreeLift.

Skilled labor shortages, transparency, and increased efficiency of in-house transport are currently the greatest challenges in the intralogistics of production facilities, fulfillment centers in e-commerce and wholesale. Users are increasingly relying on the combination of AMR and AGVs from different manufacturers to cover the variety of transport tasks. By doing so, they are leveraging the advantages of automation to the max. On the other hand, the increased traffic volume requires continuous transparency and centralized management through fleet management to ensure an optimal flow of traffic. Bosch Rexroth relies on the open standard interface VDA 5050.

Easier engineering and fast commissioning

The automation specialist simplifies the installation and operation of these solutions with modular software for localization, motion planning, and fleet management. Based on modern software architecture and open standards, the software modules shorten the time to market for new concepts and speed up commissioning for end users. Manufacturers such as K.Hartwall are already using these advantages and opening up new degrees of freedom for the tailored automation of intralogistics.

The ROKIT Locator localization software supports all commercially available laser scanners, vehicle types, and IPC. It fits easily into new and existing vehicle concepts. The software independently maps natural environments (natural feature navigation) without additional guidance. The ROKIT Locator automatically detects any changes in the surroundings in real time, updates the map, and communicates the changes to the other vehicles in the fleet.

Maximum openness with the ROKIT Navigator

The ROKIT Navigator navigation software, which is available on the market for the first time, takes over the motion planning of mobile robots. The modular architecture based on the VDA 5050 open interface offers maximum flexibility and ensures full interoperability. The navigation software enables maneuvering in a confined space as well as fast and high-precision docking on target objects, such as material loading and unloading stations or charging stations. It automatically detects any changes in the surroundings, such as temporarily parked obstacles, and decides, based on the situation, whether the vehicle moves round this obstacle or stops, and reports the interruption in its journey. The ROKIT Navigator is compatible with all common vehicle kinematics and complements modern localization solutions such as the ROKIT Locator. The VDA 5050 interface enables all vehicles in a fleet equipped with this to access a common, constantly updated localization map. The common software stack reduces the complexity of day-to-day operations and simplifies maintenance and future fleet expansion.

ACTIVE Fleet Manager orchestrates all transport tasks

As a bridge between the vehicles and higher level systems, the VDA 5050-capable ACTIVE Fleet Manager (AFM) from Bosch Rexroth efficiently orchestrates all transport tasks with ACTIVE Shuttle as well as the first mobile robots from third-party vendors. The A-MATE® FreeLift by K.Hartwall is equipped with decentralized intelligence and is fully integrated functionally. Users of the AFM adapt routes, route points, and orders to the current requirements on the intuitive user interface without any programming. All vehicles therefore use a common navigation map within the AFM. The ACTIVE Fleet Manager standardizes the operation of the AMRs used, such as the ACTIVE Shuttle and A-MATE® FreeLift. No additional training per vehicle type is required for the fleet management software. Users can therefore map all transport tasks consistently under one system: from the material transport of small load carriers (quarter pallets) to the transport of pallets.

There are no project costs when implementing intralogistics automation with AFM, ACTIVE Shuttle, and AGVs or AMR from third-party vendors that are configured to this. Compared to other systems on the market, this results in significantly lower project costs for installation and application changes.

Bosch Rexroth meets the legal requirements for IT security for all software solutions and thus offers protection against unauthorized access to sensitive data or cyber attacks. ROKIT Locator, ROKIT Navigator, and ACTIVE Fleet Manager integrate seamlessly into NIS-2 compliant security architectures.

At LogiMAT in Stuttgart, K.Hartwall will demonstrate the seamless coordination of its new autonomous mobile robot (AMR) A-MATE® Lite and the A-MATE® FreeLift with the ACTIVE Shuttle using Bosch Rexroth software modules in Hall 8, Stand 8B65. Bosch Rexroth will be presenting its intralogistics portfolio in Hall 8, Stand 8B47.