Automorphisms of non-singular nilpotent Lie algebras

For a real, non-singular, 2-step nilpotent Lie algebra $\mathfrak{n}$, the group \Aut(\mathfrak{n})/\Aut_0(\mathfrak{n})$,where$\Aut_0(\mathfrak{n})$ is the group of automorphisms which act trivially on the center, is the direct product of a compact group with the 1-dimensional group of dilations. Maximality of some automorphisms groups of $\mathfrak{n}$ follows and is related to how close is $\mathfrak{n}$ to being of Heisenberg type. For example, at least when the dimension of the center is two, $\dim \Aut(\mathfrak{n})$ismaximalifandonlyif$\mathfrak{n}$istype$H$. The connection with fat distributions is discussed.