„This simplified the process tremendously“

At the Mobile Robotics Summit 2025 in Düsseldorf, we spoke with Jörg Heckel, Head of Robotics Projects at Bosch Rexroth, about the successful integration of K.Hartwall's A-MATE® Lite,equipped with the Rexroth ROKIT Locator and Rexroth ROKIT Navigator, into the SYNAOS Intralogistics Platform. The interview took place right at the showcase – an ideal opportunity to talk in more depth about open standards, VDA 5050,and the practical implementation of interoperability. The conversation clearly shows that the technical foundations for scalable, cross-vendor fleets are in place – and are already being used successfully today.

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Text: SYNAOS

Question: Mr. Heckel, can you explain what made this AMR integration a success?

Jörg Heckel: It started with the process that SYNAOS helped set up. We were able to get closer together through question lists, connect the interfaces, and finally carry out initial tests with a cloud instance. This was done offline first so that we could then start online without any errors. This greatly reduced the effort involved. It quickly made it possible to go live with the end customer. Connecting our counterpart software, the ROKIT Navigator, was then no problem at all. This simplified the process enormously.

Question: If a mobile robotics OEM wants to develop new AGVs or AMRs,what are the main advantages of choosing Bosch Rexroth's ROKIT components?

Jörg Heckel: The advantage of ROKIT components - i.e., the ROKIT Locator and ROKIT Navigator from Bosch Rexroth - for vehicle manufacturers is that integration is very easy. We have modern software technologies and container technologies that run on any hardware with any laser technology. Connection to a control station system is also very easy via VDA 5050, which is very modular.

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Question: Why is VDA 5050 so crucial for the future of mobile robotics?

‍Jörg Heckel: VDA 5050 is very important for the industry because it involves the rapid integration of different vehicle fleets. In the beginning, when there were only a few manufacturers on the market, this was still very easy. Now that the market is growing, it is very important to ensure interoperability. This is what this standard represents. We started out by making our offering open, which is why we immediately committed fully to VDA 5500.

‍Question: Do you see open standards such as VDA 5050 as a long-term trend in automation?

Jörg Heckel: I definitely see a long-term trend toward standardization. This is a very important aspect in terms of streamlining this diverse industry for easy collaboration. Of course, this is something that can be accelerated by focusing on standards and ensuring that everyone adheres to them. We should now roll out the opportunities this creates on an even broader international scale. The interest is definitely there!

‍Question: Bosch Rexroth has been offering modular, flexible, and manufacturer-independent software and hardware components for years with ROKIT – The Robotics Kit. Why did you decide to use open systems in robotics?

Jörg Heckel: We were quite late to the robotics market. It has been around for many decades. We saw that market participants were struggling to get projects to market quickly. The fastest way to do this is with open systems. We also have the genes of our parent company Bosch, which is committed to democratizing high-tech components. That's something we're realizing with this.

‍Question: How exactly do the modular software components ROKIT Locator and ROKIT Navigator support advanced fleet management systems such as SYNAOS?

‍Jörg Heckel: With our solution, we made sure to implement the idea of the VDA 5050 standard and to have simple data management. This means only making changes there, only obtaining data where the operator or user is actually active. For example, if the end operator wants to change a source or sink in their operation, they can simply do so themselves without having to involve the vehicle manufacturer again. Of course, this also makes it easier to integrate the relevant vehicles.

‍Question: What specific operational advantages can be gained by equipping a robot with ROKIT components, especially if it is part of a larger fleet orchestrated by SYNAOS?

Jörg Heckel: The advantages for end users are as follows: First, they can operate the software independently, for example, through very simple mapping with our localization software. Second, as described above, they can easily adjust sources and sinks afterwards, independently, via the SYNAOS interface.

‍Question: Looking ahead, what key developments are you planning for the ROKIT robotics kit?

Jörg Heckel: We are planning to expand ROKIT with additional automation solutions. With ROKIT, we now have special components for mobile robots, vehicles, and vehicle manufacturers. These integrate with automation technology, i.e., with machines, systems, and conveyor technology. This integration requires the provision of interfaces. We are working on that.

‍Question: What does Bosch Rexroth and its customers find particularly valuable about working with SYNAOS?

Jörg Heckel: What we find particularly valuable about SYNAOS is, of course, that both sides have the same understanding of how the individual software levels work together, which makes collaboration much easier. We notice this in the pre-investment phase when we onboard new vehicles. The end customer notices it later during operation because they have less interaction with the individual players.

‍Question: What advice would you give to companies planning to use mobile robotics or modernize existing systems?

‍Jörg Heckel: When selecting software components, you should pay attention to future viability and, of course, focus on standard-based modular approaches. This makes it easier to implement further developments. And that is a huge advantage of the combination of ROKIT and SYNAOS.

‍One final question: Will we soon have a global VDA standard under a different name, or will development come from a different direction?

Jörg Heckel: VDA 5050 will certainly prevail worldwide. I don't think the name is that important; what's important is understanding the ideas behind the standard. That needs to be communicated, as it's not formulated very clearly or precisely in the standard. The main task will be to communicate this part.

About the interview

‍The interview took place at the Mobile Robotics Summit 2025 in Düsseldorf and was recorded live at the showcase.
Bosch Rexroth is a SYNAOS Certified Partner and offers modular, manufacturer-independent software and hardware components for mobile robotics with ROKIT – The Robotics Kit.
Find out more about the collaboration between SYNAOS and Bosch Rexroth and the integration of K.Hartwall's ROKIT-powered AMR into the SYNAOS platform here.

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