Our world is divided by division and conflict. The challenges faced by the national security community are more complex than ever and multiplying quickly. The rate at which technology is evolving is a key driver of that reality.

CC can help put technology to work for national security. We have supported clients in defence and security for more than 60 years. We know how to identify the emerging technologies that matter, how to nurture them and how to go quickly from the laboratory to operations.

What we do

Autonomous systems

We build autonomous land vehicles, uncrewed aerial vehicles (UAVs) and uncrewed underwater vehicles (UUVs), combining and exploiting capabilities across a wide range of technologies. For example, we have recently built an autonomous, collaborative, fleet of UAVs that can deliver transformational change to a host of applications.

Our underpinning expertise includes artificial intelligence and machine learning, sensor development and simulation. We have also built a rigorous system test architecture that can evaluate AI models and sensors for application in autonomous systems in simulation much more quickly and cost effectively than other approaches.

Command and control

Our technology consultants continuously bring new ideas and new technology to command, control, communications, computers, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (C4ISR) systems, opening up new ways of working for operational benefit.

We supported the UK Ministry of Defence on the Machine Speed Command & Control project to exploit current and future advances in AI to achieve a fundamental transformation in the speed at which operations can be conducted. More broadly, we are developing new sensor technologies, novel communications concepts and examining the benefits of novel compute technology.

Communications

Communications – and especially secure communications – are central to what we do. Our teams build bespoke communication systems to ensure protection from a broad range of threats including spoofing and jamming. High performance hybrid terrestrial/non-terrestrial networks is another key area.

Our work includes advanced antenna and receiver development that meets strict size, weight, power and cost requirements, as well as defining the architecture and developing the RF and service management technology that ensures the seamless transfer of communications.

This is founded on our deep expertise across 5G and satellite communications, which has been largely developed in the commercial environment – one example of how we routinely bring commercial innovation to defence and security applications.

Cybersecurity

We build next-generation responses to rapidly increasing threats, using a broad range of AI technologies. Developments includes an autonomous cyber defense/autonomous decision engine based on multi-agent reinforcement learning to respond to cyber-attacks on vehicles.

Our work extends beyond AI. It spans testing continuous variable quantum key distribution (QKD), developing homomorphic encryption and building solutions to meet the challenges and take the opportunities of quantum compute and post quantum encryption.

Cyber and electromagnetic activities

Our experience extends to systems that support people working to defuse Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) in the field today – and we are working on future solutions to counter ever-changing threats. We have a proven track record of taking research to frontline operations, delivering systems such as the REMIX IED jammer for the UK Ministry of Defence which is now in service with the British Army.

CC’s electronic countermeasures capability draws on deep understanding of the electromagnetic spectrum, from decades of experience in commercial and defence communications development.

Emerging technology

Through our technology advisory work, we make sure our defence and security clients are prepared for the future. We pinpoint which emerging technologies are going to matter, why they matter and what needs to be done.

Services include future visioning, horizon scanning, technology watch, road-mapping and technology deep dives. Work in emerging technology is supported by our internal investments in building a practical understanding of strategic technologies including quantum technology, AI, Human-Machine Understanding and biotechnology.

Tracking and location

Getting position, navigation and timing right is a fundamental requirement for a huge number of defence and security systems, especially in the context of tracking and location applications. As system complexity grows, the requirement becomes more difficult to satisfy but evermore vital.

We use the latest sensor technology, algorithms and connectivity to deliver next-generation solutions with improved accuracy, availability and coverage. Our client solutions range from individual components and enhancements to full turnkey, end-to-end operational tracking and location systems.

Featured insights

Our expertise

CC’s experience covers virtually every aspect of radio and communications development. With expertise in radio frequency (RF) engineering and electromagnetic capability (EMC) we develop high-performing radio systems such as simultaneous cellular (3G/4G), Wi-Fi and Bluetooth.

Functionality and performance is applied where it is most cost effective – in the antenna, the radio electronics, a custom ASIC or the digital signal processing software.

We provide complete antenna simulation, design and testing in high-performance electromagnetic chambers. Our expertise in the interaction between electromagnetic waves and human tissue, makes us uniquely able to accurately predict the impact of the human body on antenna performance.

CC has a deep understanding of AI and its applications. Our expertise spans Bayesian inference, real-time signal processing and data analysis and is combined with extensive technical skills in areas such as predictive analytics, deep learning, edge AI and empathetic AI.

Our consultants are pushing the boundaries of the human-machine interface to develop edge AI use cases, generative AI models, new supervised machine learning models and types of data analytics.

Our work is unlocking new frontiers in areas such as uncrewed aerial vehicles, synthetic biology, remote monitoring systems, telecoms and beyond.

Digital security can become a business differentiator by using the latest technology to create customer trust and loyalty in your product and connected services.

Our expertise has been applied widely: to create wearables enabling new customer experiences; to empower new vehicle fleet management business models; and to allow pharmaceutical products to be authenticated in front of the consumer, so gaining their trust.

We solve the security challenges that are critical to ensure the continual and safe operation of your businesses. The advice we give is based upon a 20-year heritage of understanding precisely what security technology can achieve. This ensures that the right investment decisions are made to reduce security risk.

At CC we are the leading the way in intelligent simulation tools, offering a comprehensive suite of services for testing autonomous systems.

Our unique approach utilises synthetic data to create tailored operational environments, run AI algorithms and evaluate sensor performance.

This advanced simulation offers numerous benefits, including the potential for up to 95% reduction in data collection costs, accelerated product development, improved safety and scenario testing.

We have the expertise to overcome any location and tracking challenge, from meeting low power or cost requirements to delivering high accuracy and reliability in cluttered and noisy environments.

Tracking and location systems depend on two key elements: sensing technology to measure location and motion; and statistical algorithms to make sense of these often noisy and disparate measurements. With deep expertise in both disciplines, we develop innovative solutions to meet the specific requirements of the situation in hand.

Our experience ranges from developing critical air traffic control and defence systems to work in the industrial and commercial sectors. Our 20-strong tracking and location team, based in both our Cambridge, UK and Boston, MA offices, is supported by our world-class expertise in allied disciplines, from machine vision to radar engineering.

Markets and technologies evolve rapidly and unpredictably. We help identify opportunities to ‘build, borrow or buy’ new technologies in anticipation of market requirements.

Business transformation is typically driven by a combination of internal, industry related, and external factors, often rooted in technology. Technology-driven disruption is nothing new, but the speed of change is unprecedented.

Because our technology consultants include engineers and scientists with deep technical insight, CC can identify golden opportunities and recommend an innovation portfolio or technology roadmap. As well as the technology, we ensure that the business model, market offerings and operations are all set up for success.

Our facilities

Anechoic test chamber

Our custom anechoic radio and antenna test chamber is a highly sophisticated 5m cube.

Inside, we carry out automated 3D measurements and visualisation of wireless device behaviour and test body-worn technology using body phantoms or real live test subjects to optimise real-word RF performance of products such as smart implants (including implanted telemetry), connected drug delivery devices and wearables.

Our anechoic test chamber is available as a standalone service for industry and academic research. Explore the facility and find out how you can access this state-of-the-art service.

AI infrastructure

CC’s comprehensive onsite compute infrastructure allows us to explore options and train and test models more rapidly to get better results.

We run petaflop-scale, containerised compute on site, with multiple NVIDIA DGX-1 deep learning supercomputers and other GPU and FPGA-accelerated servers. This links to petabyte-scale local NetApp storage, project-specific cloud and our continuous integration systems.

Autonomous vehicle simulator

This powerful asset will help you evaluate and validate advanced sensors and algorithms, including next generation radar and LiDAR.

The ability to assess safety and performance without expensive testing and physical data collection vastly accelerates product development for vehicle manufacturers and suppliers.

The simulator uses synthetic sensor data to run high throughput validation of perception, planning, prediction and control algorithm designs and evaluate proposed sensor suites.

Electronic production

CC’s flexible, responsive and agile manufacturing facilities are ideally suited to electronic and electromechanical product builds, enabling us to rapidly build short product runs to an extremely high quality.

We can build our own PCBAs using industrial representative equipment to ensure manufacturability during design. Having our own EPD facility is also extremely helpful in development, driving out DfX activities in eCAD and feeding test results back into the design process from an early stage.

Our experts

Deep tech

Are you curious about new technologies, and how they can lead to long-term sustainable value?

We think creatively at the intersection of business and technology, inventing solutions to redefine what you do.

Industries

You need a partner with intimate knowledge of your industry and proven experience of delivering value from deep tech breakthroughs.

Discover more about the work we do in your sector and how we can create real commercial advantage for you.

Insights

Take a look at the latest insights, ideas and perspectives from CC.

Explore a cross-section of up-to-date content on the deep tech trends shaping the future of business and society.

Careers

Are you looking for an opportunity for your abilities to be recognised, and make a real difference?

Whether you are just starting out or you’re an experienced professional, we would love to hear from you.