Why do AGVs often stutter or stop when moving through a warehouse? In this episode of Automation Awakenings, host Matthias Koblitz sits down with Dr.-Ing. Nick Schwarzenberg, Co-founder & Tech Lead at fünfeinhalb, to discuss the "bottleneck" of mobile robotics: Wireless Communication.We debunk the myth that 5G is a "magic wand" for every factory and explain why standard Wi-Fi often fails in safety-critical applications. Nick provides exclusive insights into the complexity of private campus networks and introduces a powerful alternative for SMEs: Real-time Wi-Fi (BlitzFunk).What you will learn in this episode:- The Critical Success Factor: Why logistics leaders must stop underestimating wireless stability.- The "100 People in a Room" Analogy: Why Wi-Fi leads to chaos in large robot fleets and how 5G brings order.- The Roaming Trap: Why mobile robots lose connection when switching access points and how to fix it.- 5G Myths & Reality: Complexity, maintenance costs, and why SMEs should think twice before going "full 5G."- 5G done right: Lufthansa Technik provides their workers with stable coverage in massive hangars."- Deterministic Wireless: How to achieve 5G-like reliability without the massive overhead.About the Guest:Nick Schwarzenberg is the Tech Lead at fünfeinhalb and an expert in industrial wireless. He studied electrical engineering at TU Dresden and earned his doctorate in the field of reliable real-time wireless communications. He specializes in designing protocols that ensure machines talk to each other with guaranteed latency, even when the environment is challenging. Since 2025, he chairs the technology work group of the Wireless Communications for Machines council at VDMA.🔔 Subscribe to Automation Awakenings for more deep dives into the future of logistics automation and robotics.🧭 Links & Resources:fünfeinhalb / BlitzFunk: https://fuenfeinhalb.de/

In dieser Episode sprechen wir mit Günter Ullrich. FTS-Pionier. Buchautor. Gründer des FTS Forums. Einer der Köpfe, die diese Branche seit den 1980ern geprägt haben.Wir sprechen über mehr als 30 Jahre FTS-Geschichte.Vom ersten Hype Ende der 80er. Bis zu AMR, VDA 5050 und heutigen Fehlannahmen.Wir erklären, was große Systeme wirklich stabil macht.Themen in dieser Episode:- Warum FTS Organisation ist, nicht Technik- Der 03.02.1987. Der Startpunkt einer ganzen Branche- Warum der erste FTS-Hype gescheitert ist- Sicherheit und Standards. Warum ISO 3691-4 bis heute prägt- AMR vs. AGV. Die gefährlichste Fehlannahme der Intralogistik- VDA 5050. Warum ein Standard nicht alle Anwendungen lösen kann- Große FTS-Anlagen mit 50+ Fahrzeugen. Was wirklich zählt🔔 Like, kommentiere und abonniere für echte Einblicke in die Logistikautomatisierung.🧭 http://automation-a.com🧑‍💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/automation-awakenings🔉 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3NRKD0tb1qOwAvECNJi4HN

hat does the factory of the future really look like? Not the hype version. The operational one.In this episode, we talk with Tobias Herwig, Managing Director at Fisher Consulting and host of the podcast Fabrik der Zukunft.You learn what actually works on the shopfloor. You hear why AI is often overrated. You see why mobile robots are still underestimated. You understand how companies bridge the gap between vision and daily operations. We discuss real use cases from large OEMs and SMEs. We talk about change management, skills, and team setup. We explain why process comes before technology. Always.Topics you will hear:- Why best practices matter more than buzzwords- Digitalization, automation, and what changed in the last 5 years- AI in factories. Where it adds value today. Where it does not- Mobile robotics as the most underrated technology in manufacturing- How internal teams implement robots without integrators- Change management that actually works on the shopfloor🔔 Like, comment, and subscribe for more insights from the world of logistics automation!🧭 http://automation-a.com🧑‍💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/automation-awakenings🔉 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3NRKD0tb1qOwAvECNJi4HN

VDA 5050 is not plug and play. Mixed fleets are harder than most expect. And humanoids are already being tested inside Siemens. In this Automation Awakenings episode, Matthias speaks with Christoph Zeltner, the Siemens expert driving SIMOVE and contributing directly to the VDA 5050 standards. You hear how Siemens manages multi-vendor AGV and AMR fleets, where the VDA 5050 spec still causes friction, and how humanoids enter industrial environments through real research projects. If you want a clear view of where mobile robotics is heading, this episode delivers the essentials without the hype.🔔 Like, comment, and subscribe for more insights from the world of logistics automation!🧭 http://automation-a.com🧑‍💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/automation-awakenings🔉 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3NRKD0tb1qOwAvECNJi4HN---

Picking the right fleet-management software for your mobile robots is tricky—and far more painful if you choose the wrong one. In this Automation Awakenings episode, we break down 5 red flags that signal a software provider might not be the partner you think they are.

From the “NDA reference customer” that mysteriously never appears to the ghost roadmap full of features that never ship, we share field-tested warning signs that save you from blown budgets, stalled go-lives, and support teams that disappear when you need them most.

🎧 Watch now to learn:

• Why the “NDA reference site” is often a polite way of saying “we have none”

• How complex pricing models hide future cost explosions

• How to test if features exist—or only live on a slide deck

• Why VDA 5050 onboarding claims need real-world proof

• How to spot suppliers that rely on one developer (and what that means for you)

🔔 Like, comment, and subscribe for more insights from the world of logistics automation!

🧭 http://automation-a.com
🧑‍💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/automation-awakenings
🔉 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3NRKD0tb1qOwAvECNJi4HN

Picking the right AMR/AGV partner is hard—and expensive if you get it wrong. In this Automation Awakenings episode, we break down 5 clear red flags that signal a mobile robot supplier might not be the right fit. From the “vampire” reference customer that vanishes in daylight to the proof-of-concept they won’t run, we share hard-won lessons to help you avoid stalled go-lives and the ROI that never shows up.🎧 Watch now to learn:The “Vampire Reference Customer” effect—and how to test claims fastWhy refusing a Proof of Concept is a deal-breakerHow no spec book = scope creep + endless change ordersSpotting a never-ending go-live (and how to escalate)Preventing the ROI that never arrives (or goes negative)🔔 Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more insights from the world of logistics automation!🧭 http://automation-awakenings.com🧑‍💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/automation-awakenings 🔉 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3NRKD0tb1qOwAvECNJi4HN---00:00 Intro02:50 Red Flag #1: The “Vampire” reference customer04:48 Red Flag #2: Unwillingness to run a PoC07:52 Red Flag #3: No spec book (and why that’s fatal)10:28 Red Flag #4: The never-ending go-live/stabilization loop12:56 Red Flag #5: ROI that never materializes15:12 Recap & next steps

In this episode of Automation Awakenings, we sit down with David Reger, Founder & CEO of Neura Robotics, to explore how one of the fastest-growing names in robotics plans to revolutionize industry, service, and home automation.We discuss Neura’s bold goal to manufacture 5 million humanoid robots by 2030, the technology driving this vision, and the market forces — from an aging population to labor shortages — that make it possible. David also shares his insights on humanoids vs. mobile robots, physical AI, and why global collaboration is key to making humanoids mainstream.🎧 Watch now to learn:- Why humanoids are arriving faster than expected- The role of physical AI and sensor technology in humanoids- First real-world use cases for humanoid robots- How humanoids will coexist with mobile robots in logistics- Neura’s global market strategy and potential IPO plans🚀 Are humanoids the next big leap in automation — or is it all hype? Find out from the visionary leading the charge.🔔 Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more insights from the world of logistics automation!🧭 http://automation-awakenings.com🧑‍💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/automation-awakenings 🔉 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3NRKD0tb1qOwAvECNJi4HN

Summer ideas turn serious: can you automate a brownfield plant with mobile robots? Yes—if you tackle the right hurdles in the right order. In this episode, we break down the common blockers (floors, aisles, light, oil mist), the mindset shift from “manual steps + robots” to truly automation-ready processes, and when to choose AMR vs. AGV. We close with a practical “greenfield-for-brownfield” design method you can apply tomorrow.🎯 You’ll learn: -What really distinguishes brownfield from greenfield (beyond buzzwords) -Physical hurdles & pragmatic fixes (cracks, narrow aisles, sunlight, contaminants) -Why the first project should stay simple—then scaleProcess redesign: think automated processes, not automated manual work- AMR vs. AGV in brownfield + the “greenfield-for-brownfield” approach

If you’re planning to bring mobile robots into an existing site, this is your playbook.🧭 http://automation-awakenings.com🧑‍💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/automation-awakenings 🔉 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3NRKD0tb1qOwAvECNJi4HN

When do you actually need an agnostic VDA 5050 fleet manager, and when is the native fleet manager enough? In this episode (recorded at Schloss Solitude near Stuttgart), we unpack real-world scenarios: single junction vs. many, one vendor vs. multi-vendor fleets, IO-box “traffic light” workarounds, onboarding complexity, and the true tipping points. We finish with concrete “golden bullets” for your specification so you know how to start.🎯 You’ll learn:Native vs. agnostic fleet managers (clear definitions)When a simple IO-box fix is enoughWhy adding another vendor is the bigger complexity bombWhat to demand in your spec book (beyond “VDA 5050 ready”)How to de-risk multi-vendor scale-upIf you’ve got a tricky use case, drop it in the comments, we’ll cover it in a future episode.🧭 http://automation-awakenings.com🧑‍💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/automation-awakenings 🔉 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3NRKD0tb1qOwAvECNJi4HN

In this special Automation Awakenings summer edition, we take you outside to the stunning Solitude Castle in Stuttgart to unpack one of the most important — and most misunderstood — topics in logistics automation: ROI calculation for mobile robots. 📊We break down the top-down vs. bottom-up approaches, reveal hidden savings layers beyond labor cost, and share golden tips from real-world projects that can dramatically shorten your payback period.🎯 You’ll learn:- Why the top-down approach beats stopwatch timing- How to factor in safety, damage reduction & process stability- The “latent effects” that make every future project cheaper & faster- How to convince your boss or finance team with a rock-solid ROI case- Whether you’re planning your first AMR project or refining your automation strategy, this episode will help you calculate ROI the smart way.📽️ Watch now and turn your ROI into a winning argument for automation!🧭 http://automation-awakenings.com🧑‍💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/automation-awakenings 🔉 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3NRKD0tb1qOwAvECNJi4HN---