What is smart infrastructure?

Essentially, it is a connected intelligent network that represents the future of industrial and urban environments. Its delivery is being propelled by the rapidly accelerating sophistication of automation and autonomy technologies. At the core of innovation are advances in AI, wireless communication, sensing capabilities and low-power operation. 

There has never been a better time to exploit digital transformation and innovation in industrial, smart highways, and smart city infrastructure. Experts here at CC are ready to unpack the complexities and point you towards commercial application. 

From automation to autonomy to smart infrastructure 

Industry is increasingly embracing the journey from automation to autonomy. Sectors are at different stages of maturity. They range from logistics and warehousing – which are mature in automation and looking to extend into full autonomy – to smart cities and construction, which for several reasons has particularly struggled to embrace the benefits up to this point.

We are ready to help you seize the day by accelerating the adoption of smart infrastructure technologies. The CC team offers multidisciplinary capabilities and expertise across sensor and data fusion, robotics, simulated environments, AI, technical strategy and business model innovation. 

The importance of turning data insight into action 

The power of IoT and increasing penetration of 5G networks – public and private - means that the cost of data acquisition – both financial and operational – is falling. But gathering data is one thing. Sorting and prioritising it is the key to developing the necessary insight that leads to the ability to react in a timely way to any given situation. The CC team has deep expertise in understanding and augmenting sensor systems, fusing sources to reduce cost, improve quality and reduce latency in data gathering.​ 

Alongside data acquisition, our skills in processing information through algorithms or edge AI can improve reaction speed, reduce data transfer volumes to overcome connectivity or latency challenges and provide robust offline solutions to enhance productivity, safety and even enable alternative approaches to business. ​ 

Sophisticated testing in simulated environments 

The ability to simulate environments and use cases with sufficient equivalence to real world situations is enormously powerful. Simulation can significantly reduce the cost and time of developing autonomous capabilities for smart infrastructure. It hastens the understanding of the critical parameters of a system and allows edge cases to be investigated.    

We have a track record in developing cutting edge simulation capabilities and applying these to a range of different applications and market sectors. We use our skills to rapidly develop and test sensors and algorithms and explore rare or hazardous use cases within the simulated environment, reducing the need for expensive and time-consuming real-world tests and trials and adding the potential for predictive capability to digital twins.

We can help you achieve the seemingly impossible

Navigating smart infrastructure environments

Dynamic working environments such as construction sites create significant challenges for autonomous vehicles. Currently, autonomous vehicles making slow progress and freeze regularly. This is less than ideal for a seamless working process.

We’ve developed novel approaches to navigation by pairing sophisticated algorithms, trained with data from both real life and simulated environments, with cost effective sensor and data fusion techniques. This creates a more dynamic capability, able to adapt and navigate in a more intuitive way which not only improves performance but also helps workers or other vehicles interact and function alongside each other. 

Digital security challenges in smart infrastructure 

In the world of smart infrastructure, assets are often widely accessible and in-situ for long periods. This means solutions must have a future-proof digital security approach. In some long-term deployment cases, inevitable impact of quantum computing must be considered. Holistic thinking – where the entire ecosystem and potential use cases are understood – is vital to ensure that all areas are considered and protected​. 

We have a deep expertise in developing secure systems, engaging early in the design process to deliver the assurance and governance needed. We’ll work with you through the process of balancing cost, security and ease-of use. ​Our intention is to make security a differentiator for businesses while achieving better security and increased confidence in it.  

Strategic advice for your smart infrastructure journey 

The route of an automation journey is often initially unclear. Significant advantages are often expected but with so many different starting points, working out the best first step requires careful consideration. Our strategic advice will help you match your business needs with the right technical solutions for your industry sector. 

Leveraging our in-house technical delivery expertise, we’ll create a strong vision of the future that is backed by sound technical knowledge of the art of the possible. This will enable buy-in at all stakeholder levels, enabling a strategic approach to the impact of adopting the technology, be it in business model changes or go-to-market strategy. It will also inform a technical roadmap for the short and medium term that will deliver return on investment against your goals. ​

Tech, tools & facilities

AI infrastructure datalab

AI infrastructure

Our onsite compute infrastructure allows us to explore options, train and test models more rapidly and 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

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.

Robotics-lab

Robotics lab - Cambridge, UK

In addition to our dedicated manufacturing and electronics prototyping capabilities, we maintain a robotics-specific lab to carry out development and demonstrations, equipped with several robotic arms and 3D tracking capabilities.

Warehouse-scale-development-space

Warehouse-scale development space

For large-scale robotics development, we maintain a warehouse space suitable for the prototyping and testing of sizable robotics and automation projects.

Talk to us about world-changing innovation

Insights & News 

Press release

EnfuseNet: Rewriting the economics of vehicle autonomy

Jun 30, 2020

Cambridge Consultants developed EnfuseNet, a breakthrough Artificial Intelligence (AI) system for autonomous vehicles. A low-cost system that generates high-resolution depth data for vehicle perception technology.

  • Augmented reality & virtual reality
  • Sensing
Stato report
Report

Move over LiDAR, mmWave radar is here

May 27, 2022

Multiple industries are increasingly frustrated by the prohibitive cost and excessive timeframes of obtaining real-world data for autonomous vehicle (AV) development. Using simulated environments - specifically mmWave radar simulation - to train machine learning models slashes the need for real-world data collection and provides a platform for rare use cases. This innovation briefing further explores the potential of mmWave radar simulation to reduce autonomous machine costs and enable greater levels of autonomy.

  • AI & Analytics
  • Augmented reality & virtual reality
  • Sensing
Card DX

Webinar on demand: Construction DX – transformation through automation

In this webinar and accompanying articles and reports, Cambridge Consultants revealed how adopting radical innovation approaches combined with deep understanding of the latest technology from multiple sectors could turn buzzwords into actionable opportunities. Experts discussed how to drive adoption of automation and autonomous systems, allowing the industry to overcome these challenges and thrive.
Press release

Helping visually impaired people to navigate indoor spaces

Dec 16, 2019

Cambridge Consultants and Waymap have created a unique smartphone service that helps visually impaired people to navigate through complex indoor spaces, such as public transport hubs.

  • AI & Analytics
  • Digital service innovation
  • Sensing
  • Tracking & location

Case Studies 

Case study

AI-powered service innovation for Hitachi

Jun 7, 2021

Creating an IoT platform that unlocks new digital services and revenue streams

  • AI & Analytics
  • Digital service innovation
  • User Experience (UX)
Case study

Innovation Catalyst Programme

Feb 17, 2021

Unlocking sustainability innovation for major Japanese brands

  • Product realisation
  • Strategic advice
Case study

Technology road mapping

Nov 26, 2017

Developing a realistic and achievable technology roadmap to deliver real end user value, for a market-leading supplier of photovoltaic panel mounting solutions.

  • Industrial design
  • Innovation management
  • Product realisation
  • Project management
  • Strategic advice
Case study

Wireless breakthrough for the Ocado Smart Platform

Mar 31, 2021

A world-first in radio design helps transform online grocery across the globe

  • Cloud/scalable systems
  • Connectivity & IoT
  • Digital security
  • Electronics & ASICs
  • Embedded software
  • Mechanical engineering
  • Product realisation
  • Radio systems
  • Robotics
  • Signal processing
  • Strategic advice