The short answer
Robot fleet management is software that assigns tasks to a group of robots, tracks where they are and what state they are in, and coordinates them so they do not get in each other's way. Most manufacturers supply fleet software that only runs their own machines. On a site with several vendors, that means several dashboards and no shared awareness. A vendor-neutral layer puts all of them under one set of rules, one map and one operator.
How machines from different vendors connect
| Route | What it is | Brings in |
|---|---|---|
| VDA 5050 | Open interface published by the German automotive association VDA with VDMA. A master control sends transport orders to vehicles and receives their state over MQTT with JSON messages. Version 3.0, published in March 2026, added support for freely navigating robots and a formal zone concept. | AGVs, AMRs, tuggers and autonomous forklifts |
| Open-RMF | Open-source framework, managed by the Open Source Robotics Alliance, that coordinates robots with each other and with lifts, doors and other shared infrastructure. | Service, cleaning and security robots in buildings |
| MassRobotics | Voluntary standard from the Boston robotics hub MassRobotics (version 1.0, 2021). Robots or fleets from different vendors share identity, position, state and planned destinations as JSON over WebSockets, without sending each other orders. | Several AMR fleets that each keep their own fleet manager |
| ROS 2 | The robotics middleware many modern machines are built on. Where a maker exposes its ROS 2 interface, the machine can be integrated directly. | Inspection quadrupeds, research platforms, newer industrial autonomy |
| Vendor API | A connector written against a manufacturer's own REST or SDK interface. | Machines whose makers have not adopted a standard, including most port and heavy equipment |
These are communication standards: they say how fleets exchange orders and status, not how each machine stays safe. Vehicle safety is covered by standards such as ISO 3691-4 for AGVs and AMRs.
What a fleet layer should do
- One site model: floors, zones, obstacles, people and every machine on one map.
- Condition-driven tasking: re-plan the fleet when a spill, closed corridor or late delivery appears, instead of following a fixed timetable.
- Written policy: speed limits in public areas, exclusion zones, certified-area limits and handover to a person.
- Audit trail: every decision logged, which matters in certified areas and ports.
- Honest integration: where a vendor's system is closed, you should know before you buy.
How HORMĒ does it
HORMĒ is a Behavioral Intelligence platform that sits above the vendors' own systems. It connects machines through VDA 5050, Open-RMF, ROS 2 or vendor connectors, and runs cleaning, inspection, logistics, security and port machines as one fleet. It is licensed per machine per month: Core from $149, Autonomy from $349, and Assured from $690. Pricing is indicative. See the pricing section or talk to the fleet assistant.
Where it pays off in the UAE
- Cleaning robots in malls, airports and hospitals
- Delivery and service robots in hotels and hospitals
- Security and patrol robots
- Warehouse robots and autonomous forklifts
- Port and heavy equipment
Frequently asked questions
What is robot fleet management software?
It is software that assigns tasks to a group of robots, monitors their location and status, and coordinates their movement and use of shared spaces.
What is VDA 5050?
VDA 5050 is an open interface standard from the German automotive association VDA and VDMA for communication between a master control and automated vehicles, using MQTT and JSON. Version 3.0 was published in March 2026.
What is Open-RMF?
Open-RMF is an open-source framework for making robots from different vendors share buildings, coordinating them with each other and with lifts and doors. It is managed by the Open Source Robotics Alliance.
Can robots from different manufacturers work together?
Yes, when they connect through a common standard such as VDA 5050, Open-RMF or ROS 2, or through connectors written for each vendor's interface. Some vendor systems are closed, which should be checked before buying.
How much does HORMĒ's fleet platform cost?
It is licensed per machine per month, with indicative prices of $149 for Core, $349 for Autonomy and $690 for Assured. Fleet rates apply above twenty machines.