In this paper a modular generic architecture for cyber-physical systems based on free open software components is presented. The architecture is implemented over inexpensive components frequently found in information and communication technology contexts. More specifically, the robot operating system middleware abstracts communication among multiple networked modules, whereas the Docker lightweight virtualization container is proposed to wrap up software modules. Focus is on mobile robotics in production systems and industrial automation environments. Actually, an automated guided vehicle problem is demonstrated by means of a proof of concept aimed at industrial automation applications illustrating the potential of the proposed architecture and its implementation, built with low cost hardware modules.