AORTA project demonstrates distributed robotics and edge computing

After three years of research and development, the AORTA project is approaching its conclusion. The results will be presented on September 23, 2026, at Mötesplats Avancerad Digitalisering at The Loop in Lund, including a live-streamed robotics demonstration from the robot lab at Lund University.

AORTA, Advanced Offloading for Real-Time Applications, has explored how robotics and IT infrastructure can work more closely together by moving software functions between local systems, edge infrastructure and the cloud.

In the final demonstration, three robots collaborate on an assembly task while parts of their software functionality are offloaded to the Ericsson Edge. The demonstrator brings together robotics, real-time control, communication infrastructure and edge computing in one system.

For Cognibotics, the important question is how these new architectures can become practical for real industrial automation. Juliet & Romeo, Cognibotics’ software foundation for robotics and automation, is a key part of that work, providing a bridge between modern IT concepts and the real-time requirements of robots and industrial machines.

The AORTA demonstrator provides a valuable view of where industrial robotics is heading and of the technologies that will be needed to make that transition possible.

AORTA is coordinated by Ericsson Research and funded through Vinnova’s Advanced Digitalization programme, bringing together industry and academia to explore technologies for future industrial systems.

Visitors to Mötesplats Avancerad Digitalisering in Lund can see the live-streamed demonstration during the coffee breaks on September 23, 2026.