A3 Announces New ISO Standard to Help Mobile Robots From Different Manufacturers Work Together
By Greg Bock · · 2 min read
Insider Brief
- A new international standard, ISO 21423:2026, establishes common communication requirements to help industrial mobile robots from different manufacturers share information and coordinate tasks in the same facility.
- Developed by ISO Technical Committee 299, the standard covers communication between robots, fleet managers and other industrial systems, including the exchange of location, speed, operating status and task information.
- The Association for Advancing Automation (A3) said the standard could reduce conflicts between robots, improve operational efficiency and give companies greater flexibility to use equipment from multiple suppliers.
A new international standard establishes common communication requirements for industrial mobile robots, making it easier for machines from different manufacturers to share information and coordinate tasks in the same facility.
The Association for Advancing Automation (A3) announced the publication of ISO 21423:2026, which specifies how industrial mobile robots, fleet management systems and other equipment exchange information and request actions.
Developed by ISO Technical Committee 299, the standard addresses the challenges of operating robots from multiple suppliers in shared environments. It establishes requirements for exchanging information about a robot’s location, speed, direction, operating condition, assigned tasks and availability.
According to A3, the standard could help prevent robots from interfering with each other’s paths, improving equipment availability and efficiency. It could also give companies more flexibility when purchasing robots rather than relying on a single supplier.
Carole Franklin, A3’s director of standards development for robotics, said industrial users have sought interoperability standards for years.
“Now, ISO 21423 gives manufacturers and users a common basis for communication across fleets, no matter where in the world their facility is located,” Franklin said. “This standard can help companies expand automation with equipment from different vendors and make better use of the robots they already have.”
Connecting Robots With Industrial Systems
The standard also covers communication between robots and other equipment used in industrial facilities, including machines serviced by robots, enterprise resource planning (ERP) software and building systems such as elevators, automated doors and alarms.
Workers using mobile devices can share similar information, allowing their activities to be coordinated with robotic operations.
A3 said the requirements could also encourage competition among robot suppliers by making it easier for customers to combine equipment from different manufacturers.
ISO 21423 is the first non-safety robotics standard that A3 has helped develop. It is available through the organization’s online store for $373, or $320 for A3 members.
