German researchers and industry leaders develop new standards for modular automation

New technical specifications are being introduced to standardize communication and modularity within industrial automation and intralogistics.

The M2X (machine to x) draft, developed by the Technical University of Dortmund and the Fraunhofer Institute for Material Flow and Logistics, provides an open specification for mobile robots to interact with their environment. This standard aims to unify how robots communicate with infrastructure components such as elevators, charging stations, and doors, addressing the current issue where systems from different manufacturers use incompatible interfaces. The initiative is supported by the VDMA association and various industrial partners.

In parallel, the Module-Type-Package (MTP) standard is being utilized by companies like Merck to increase flexibility in process industries. MTP allows process modules to describe their functions digitally to a higher-level control system, reducing integration efforts. This approach, supported by the MTP Specification 2.0, aims to create a foundation for Industrial AI by combining modules with digital product passports and administrative layers.