ISO publishes new interoperability standard for industrial mobile robots

The Association for Advancing Automation (A3) has released ISO 21423:2026, a new international standard designed to facilitate communication and interoperability among industrial mobile robots (IMRs) from different vendors.

Developed by ISO Technical Committee 299, the standard provides a common set of requirements for automated guided vehicles (AGVs), autonomous mobile robots (AMRs), and similar systems. It specifies how robots, fleet managers, and other equipment exchange critical information, including location, speed, direction, condition, tasking, and availability.

By allowing machines from different suppliers to coordinate, the standard aims to reduce path interference and improve system efficiency. According to A3, this interoperability can help companies expand automation using equipment from various manufacturers and may increase market competition and innovation.