Semantic‑Edge Intelligence for Remote Vision in 6G Networks (VISION‑6G)

Today’s wireless systems often transmit vast amounts of raw data, such as video streams, leading to heavy network loads and communication delays. This limits the ability to remotely control machines and vehicles with high precision in real time.

The VISION-6G project explores how next-generation 6G networks can become more efficient, intelligent, and adaptable for advanced industrial applications. It will introduce a novel approach based on semantic communication, where instead of sending entire data streams, the system transmits concise messages. This can dramatically reduce data volumes, increase responsiveness, and enhance system robustness. The approach is combined with edge intelligence, where artificial intelligence is deployed locally, close to the data source, to analyze and interpret information in real time. This enables wireless systems to act more autonomously and context-aware, without overloading the network.

The project is led by Mid Sweden University in collaboration with Aalborg University. Together, we are developing a new communication architecture to be tested in a real-world environment between Sweden and Denmark. In the demonstrator, a mobile platform at Aalborg University will be remotely monitored from Mid Sweden University via a high-speed wireless link. The objective is to evaluate how semantic communication can be applied in realistic 6G scenarios and contribute to future standardization efforts.

The project is expected to deliver a functional prototype, new design guidelines, and empirical insights into performance and data efficiency. It will help establish a scientific foundation for next-generation wireless systems, where communication is not only about transmitting data but about conveying meaning. VISION-6G strengthens Sweden’s position in international 6G research and supports the development of intelligent, sustainable, and reliable communication solutions. The expected outcomes are highly relevant for sectors such as manufacturing, logistics, healthcare, and autonomous systems. 

Through its interdisciplinary approach, VISION-6G combines advanced technology research with practical, real-world applications. The project represents an important step toward future wireless communication — where networks understand what information means, not just how to transmit it.

By the end of the project, we expect to have:

• Demonstrated the technical feasibility of semantic communication in a 6G-aligned wireless testbed.
• Validated a communication framework integrating multimodal sensor data and local AI processing.
• Gained empirical insights into performance trade-offs between raw data transfer and semantically compressed transmission.
• Produced design guidelines and performance metrics for further development and potential standardization.