Edge computing is increasingly seen as the perfect enabler for distributed robotic applications requiring low latency and high adaptability. However, current approaches offload computational tasks exclusively to edge nodes, overlooking scenarios where onboard processing can meet performance tar-gets. Therefore, we propose a framework that unifies offloading decision and resource orchestration into a single algorithm that compares different allocation strategies under accuracy, latency, and energy goals. Results show that this approach admits more functions while maintaining strict performance targets, offering substantial gains in overall system utility.

This paper presents the design and implementation of an Artificial Intelligence Control Plane (AICP) for deterministic networks, emphasizing the Proof-of-Concept (PoC) demonstration. The AICP framework integrates AI, digital twin technology, and real-time telemetry to manage complex network environments, ensuring reliable and low-latency communication. The PoC showcases the practical viability of the AICP by dynamically adapting to varying network demands and maintaining stringent to the Key Performance Indicator (KPI)s of the service. Extensive testing and real-world simulations highlight the framework's potential to enhance the efficiency and resilience of industrial communication networks.

Following the Industry 4.0 vision of a full digitization of the industry, time-critical services and applications, allowing network infrastructures to deliver information with determinism and reliability, are becoming more and more relevant for a set of vertical sectors. As a consequence, deterministic network solutions are progressively emerging, albeit they are still bounded to specific technological domains. Even considering the existence of interconnected deterministic networks, the provision of an end-to-end (E2E) deterministic service over them must rely on a specific control plane architecture, capable of seamlessly integrate and control the underlying multi-technology data plane. In this work, we envision such a control plane solution, extending previous works and exploiting several innovations and novel architectural concepts. The proposed control architecture is service-centric, in order to provide the necessary flexibility, scalability, and modularity to deal with a heterogenous data plane. The architecture is hierarchical and encompasses a set of management platforms to interact with specific network technologies overarched by an E2E platform for the management, monitoring, and control of E2E deterministic services. Furthermore, Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Digital Twinning are used to enable network predictability and automation, as well as smart resource allocation, to ensure service reliability in dynamic scenarios where existing services may terminate and new ones may need to be deployed.