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Coordinated Intelligence: How Smart Systems Working Together Shape the Future
2025-06-16
New research explores how autonomous systems collaborate to solve real-world problems
Imagine a city where self-driving cars don’t just navigate on their own but actually work together to avoid traffic jams and reduce accidents. Or a power grid where small, local stations adjust their output based on real-time data to prevent waste and ensure a steady energy supply. These aren’t distant sci-fi dreams—they’re part of a powerful concept called Systems-of-Systems (SoS), explored by researchers Jakob Axelsson (Mälardalen University) and Pontus Svenson (RISE).
SoS refers to a network of independent systems that retain their autonomy but interact to create added value. Axelsson and Svenson focus on two key principles that enable these networks to work: capability (what each system can do) and autonomy (its ability to act independently).
“We want systems to function like independent agents that can collaborate smoothly without being micromanaged,” says Jakob Axelsson.
Take autonomous vehicles as an example. In a crowded urban environment, it’s not enough for each car to make good decisions in isolation. Each one must also understand and react to the behaviors of others—when to yield, when to reroute, and when to brake. The researchers’ work provides a theoretical foundation for designing such behavior, making large-scale coordination not only possible but practical.
Why this Matters
As industrial ecosystems grow more complex—from global supply chains to decentralized energy systems, the need for cooperation between digital systems increases. The goal of this research is not just technological progress, but resilient, adaptive, and sustainable solutions.
Contributions to the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs):
Goal 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure
This research helps build robust and flexible industrial networks. In manufacturing or logistics, SoS principles enable autonomous subsystems to respond to disruptions in real time—improving efficiency and resilience.
Goal 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
Smart cities rely on coordination: traffic systems, energy grids, emergency response. This work explores the tools to make those systems talk to each other with the goal of achieving safer and smarter cities.
Goal 13: Climate Action
By optimizing energy and resource use, SoS-based systems can cut down on waste and emissions. For instance, energy grids that adapt dynamically can reduce the need for fossil fuel backup and make better use of renewables.
Bottom line: This research explores the next generation of intelligent, sustainable technologies—where systems don’t just work; they work together.