Manufacturer-independent, flexible, and customizable
Aulis is an agent-based, modular operating system for intralogistics that efficiently organizes the internal transport of goods with automated guided vehicles (AGVs) and autonomous mobile robots (AMRs).
By consistently using open de facto standards such as VDA 5050 and M2X, Aulis remains manufacturer-independent and flexible, thus enabling an easy and seamless integration into existing IT landscapes – in the spirit of a true plug-and-play approach. Aulis is available as open-source software, which means that individuals, companies or the open-source community have the opportunity to flexibly expand certain modules according to their individual needs or to expand the existing range of functions.
Internal material flows and transport processes are usually aligned with other internal (production) processes and are therefore very individual. With the modular architecture of Aulis, companies can implement a tailored solution that is precisely aligned to their specific needs. To meet these requirements, Aulis currently offers five different modules, each covering different functions of fleet management:
The order agent takes care of the completion of production and transport orders as well as the interaction with other IT systems such as ERP, WMS, or MES systems. The description language for production and transport orders is available as open-source software and can be easily downloaded and used.
The routing agent plans time-optimal, VDA 5050-compliant routes for heterogeneous fleets of AGV and AMRs to maximize the efficiency of the mobile robots and thus the intralogistics processes.
The optimization module intelligently allocates transport orders to the appropriate AGV and AMR, ensuring optimal utilization of the mobile robots.
The vehicle agents represent the individual behavior of mobile robots and control them according to the de facto standard VDA 5050, enabling easy interoperability concerning the manufacturers of AGV and AMR.
Finally, the user interface module allows for both management and real-time display of information from the shop floor. The information is presented through a native app, which is available for mobile devices and desktop PCs from various manufacturers and operating systems.
Which agents and modules are used is determined by the respective use case or based on specific customer requirements. This makes it possible to expand or exchange individual modules or to add new modules with the desired functionality – either by editing the open-source modules available or by having us do it for you.
In today’s digital world, data sovereignty is not only a matter of security but also a key to long-term competitiveness and success. Therefore, data sovereignty is central to Aulis for the protection and efficiency of a company. Aulis can be executed in the cloud, at the edge, or on-premise, allowing for decisions on where and how sensitive data is stored and used.
Open source is the central driving force behind Aulis, enabling modules to offer open-source solutions that can be easily utilized. This opens up the possibility for any interested user to actively participate in the further development and optimization of Aulis, contributing to the design of a future-oriented intralogistics.
Aulis specifically targets small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), manufacturers of automated guided vehicles (AGV), and system integrators who want to optimize their processes and increase the efficiency of their fleet management solutions or who do not want to rely on a single manufacturer.
For SMEs, which often face a shortage of skilled workers, Aulis offers a simple and cost-effective solution to optimize their operations. Aulis enables straightforward integration into the existing IT infrastructure as well as easy extension and customization of the system, allowing companies to quickly implement their specific requirements. By using open standards like VDA 5050, there is no dependency on a single manufacturer, giving companies the freedom to combine various technologies and products. Aulis can handle both simple transport orders and complex material flows, enabling SMEs to increase their efficiency while remaining flexible in responding to market changes, whether in efficient line production or complex matrix productions.
Manufacturers of AGV and AMR benefit from the openness of the system, which allows them to develop their own modules or customize existing ones. Through modularization and independence from programming languages, it is possible to use the most suitable technology for the specific requirements of manufacturers. Aulis supports the integration of AI applications, enabling more accurate estimation of trajectory profiles and effective order optimization.
System integrators find in Aulis a powerful platform that enables them to develop customized solutions for their clients. Through the loose coupling of modules and the use of defined interfaces and open standards (including VDA 5050 and M2X), existing functionalities can be easily integrated or new modules added. Communication between the modules occurs via the MQTT protocol, which also facilitates the integration of different systems and technologies.
Aulis offers an innovative solution that is tailored to the specific needs of SMEs, AGV and AMR manufacturers, and system integrators. The modularity, openness, and flexibility of the system enable efficient management of transport fleets that meet the requirements of a dynamic production environment. Use Aulis to optimize your operations and gain a competitive advantage.
Aulis prioritizes flexibility and scalability to adapt dynamically to change while supporting sustainable business development. These features are crucial for staying competitive in a constantly changing market.
Open-source software refers to software whose source code is publicly accessible. Anyone can view, modify and distribute the code. This promotes collaboration, innovation and transparency in software development. Some advantages of open source are that the software is often free of charge, which lowers the total cost of ownership. Users can customize the software to their specific needs, which increases flexibility. Security benefits from having many eyes reviewing the code, which exposes security vulnerabilities faster. In addition, the active community provides support and resources. The transparency of the viewable source code creates trust, and there is no dependency on a particular vendor, which is known as vendor lock-in.
An agent-based software system consists of autonomous, interacting “agents” that pursue specific tasks or goals. These agents can make decisions, learn and adapt to their environment, allowing complex problems in dynamic environments to be solved efficiently.
Fraunhofer Institute for Material Flow and Logistics IML