Smart cities are still in the development stage in the United States – with government and the private market looking to make strides in the buildout of true smart ecosystems in urban areas, and even across larger regions. Sprint has been at the forefront of those efforts, having announced multiple firsts in the deployment of real-world smart city infrastructure in several areas of the country this past year – from Curiosity Lab at Peachtree Corners in Georgia; Greenville, South Carolina; to a large effort with Arizona State University to help drive smart region growth across that state.
Fast forward to CES 2020 today – and Sprint is extending its pole position in making the smart city vision a reality. The reason is simple: the company is a leading mobile operator helping to create connectivity and conditions that power a smart city ecosystem. The combination of next-generation wireless technologies like Curiosity™ IoT’s network and operating system are engineered and dedicated specifically for the explosion of connected devices. Combine world-class relationships with technology leaders and close collaboration with local and state government agencies and it is clear why Sprint is in the forefront.
Today, there’s exciting progress to celebrate.
Curiosity Lab at Peachtree Corners
The nation’s first smart city technology proving ground – powered by real-world smart city infrastructure – is already hosting some of the world’s most prominent technology companies. These entities are testing new technologies that will drive the smart ecosystems of tomorrow. From top automotive vehicle manufacturers, autonomous drone companies, smart light pole providers, education fleet transit service providers, top airline companies, proximity kitchen providers, major hotel chains to industrial IoT leaders, the 1.5-mile autonomous test track and 500-acre technology park are buzzing with Sprint activity.
Available Now At-A-Glance:
- Sprint LTE Advanced/True Mobile 5G Network
- Advanced Transit Corridor – Powered by Sprint Connectivity
- 1.5-mile roadway with dedicated autonomous lanes – monitored by 20 cameras delivering video analytics and surveillance – including 34 intersections; 6 bus stops; and a 13-degree incline for roads.
- Autonomous driving shuttle
- Central Command Center
- Central Command room to gather and test data powered by a secure data connection (dedicated fiber line, not connected to other points).
- Access to the 20 surveillance cameras on test track
- Proprietary data is guaranteed to be protected – accessible only by Curiosity Lab at Peachtree Corners, Sprint and authorized users.
- Sprint Dedicated Space at the Innovation Center
- Office/meeting space combined with Sprint experiential marketing space demonstrating robotics and artificial intelligence in action.
- Technical support for system design
Coming in 2020:
- “Micropositioning” technology which combines next-generation wireless technologies, small cells installed in city infrastructure and HD mapping to enable real-world navigation for autonomous machines
- Connected sensors and IoT solution testing in the Innovation Center, for solutions like refrigeration monitoring. Plus an artificial intelligence-powered refreshment station.
- Push button alert system (from myDevices) and building occupancy testing with major hotel chains
- Security robots in Town Hall
Smart City Greenville (South Carolina)
Sprint Curiosity™ IoT and advanced network deployment have set the stage for Greenville’s move toward becoming a true smart city. Connected vehicles, autonomous services/machines and more smart technologies are being deployed in conditions that reflect future, larger smart cities – allowing them to operate, navigate and react in real-time – with real-world scenarios.
Available Now At-A-Glance:
- Sprint Massive MIMO Advanced Network
- Macro tower upgrades completed to cover all key areas of Greenville, including downtown, Verdae (planned community) and Clemson University International Center for Automotive Research (CU-ICAR).
- Smart Transit Corridor
- Highly trafficked roadway adjacent to Verdae and CU-ICAR, utilizing Curiosity Smart Video Analytics and smart lighting
- “Micropositioning” technology which combines next-generation wireless technologies, small cells installed in city infrastructure and HD mapping to enable real-world navigation for autonomous machines
- Smart transit hub with digital signage, EV charging for micro-mobility and a cellular “hot spot”
Coming in 2020:
- Smart retail district leveraging advanced connectivity for point-of-sale and virtual reality-powered retail solutions.
- Downtown innovation space
- Downtown AV shuttle on public roadway
- Advanced traffic signal management for traffic optimization and emergency vehicle signal preemption
- Time monitoring solution in conjunction with a global tire manufacturer
- Smart university campus sensors, in conjunction with a Fortune 50 software platform company (water, food, lighting, security and more)
Arizona State University
In a continued effort to help drive economic, educational, technological and social growth for an entire region in Arizona, Sprint and Arizona State University (ASU) have stepped up efforts leveraging the power of Sprint’s True Mobile 5G and Curiosity™ IoT’s advanced dedicated network and operating system to:
- Develop the first IoT expert curriculum designed to inspire, train, retain and elevate IoT talent that will help shape the future – where billions of connected devices and solutions will play an important part in everyday life and society.
- Build a proof of concept for the roll-out of smart pole infrastructure that will be enabled with sensor, AR and video analytics technology along with smart lighting throughout the campus to enhance security and improve the overall campus and mobility experience for ASU students and faculty.
- Redesign existing emergency call boxes to create a mesh environment over the campus, allowing for continuous student connectivity throughout the university grounds while leveraging Sprint connectivity. Today, emergency call boxes allow individuals in distress to contact emergency personnel. It’s expected that the new smart poles will be equipped with IoT sensors and other smart connectivity technologies to provide the exact location for quick dispatch and response.
With these smart deployments, it is clear that Sprint is driving innovation that will move America down the road to becoming a smart nation.
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