Oracle has just opened its new innovation lab which is located close to Chicago, Illinois, providing users with a hands-on environment to develop new ideas and create solutions leveraging technology from Oracle and its industry partners.
This 30,000 square foot facility which is called “Oracle Industry Lab” will first focus on the energy and water, construction and engineering, communications, and manufacturing industries, all supported by Verizon 5G Ultra Wideband.
“The core technology used in the world’s most essential industries doesn’t run in an office, it runs on a construction site, in the utility operations center, on the manufacturing floor,” said Mike Sicilia, executive vice president of Oracle’s vertical industries.
“So, why not let customers develop, test, and validate technology in similar environments? The lab brings these scenarios to life so that collectively, customers, partners, and Oracle can create solutions to fuel opportunity and solve the really tough problems these industries are facing.”
In terms of communication, the new Oracle Industry Lab enables visitors to experiment with cloud native communications technologies for automation and scaling to meet expected growth in 5G subscribers, connected devices, and demand for rapid service innovation. They will also be able to explore how service providers can partner with other industries to co-create B2B2X (business-to-business-to-X) offers and business models. Collaborators in this area include EDX Technologies, Inc., ESRI, and Verizon.
For utility-based projects, the lab provides simulated environments including a connected neighborhood and smart studio apartment, enabling users to experiment with technologies such as sensors to help relieve stress on the electric grid, drones and augmented reality to improve safety and efficiency in field work, and AI and behavioral science to guide households to be more energy efficient. Collaborators on such projects include Copper Labs, EDX Technologies, Inc., Constellation Clearsight, Micatu Inc., and Samsung SmartThings, Inc.
Construction and engineering innovations are also supported at the Oracle Industry Lab. On this area, Oracle and partners will explore the power of a connected ecosystem leveraging technologies such as visual progress monitoring, sensor-based tracking, digital twins, autonomous laser scanning, augmented reality, IoT, and more. Collaborators or partners in this cadre include CAXperts, ESRI, FARO Technologies, Inc., Hilti, Intelliwave Technologies, Milwaukee Tool, Newmetrix, OpenSpace, Reconstruct, Skydio, Inc., Triax Technologies, VREX, and WakeCap Technologies.
The lab further enables users to experiment with technologies such as IoT, AI, augmented reality, digital twins, predictive analytics, and factory automation, to demonstrate their impact on efficiency, quality control, customer satisfaction, and sustainability for the manufacturing industry. Collaborators in the area of manufacturing include Anark, DiCentral, Festo, KanbanBox, Mitsubishi Electric Automation, Omron, RFSmart, Skydio, Taqtile.
As announced, Oracle plans to also open a new sustainability and mobility-centered lab in Reading, England and a construction industry-focused lab in Sydney, Australia, before the end of 2022.