Technologies: Frontier labs | Nexus Observatory

Technologies

The technologies behind frontier labs.

Every technology this platform builds with, layer by layer, from the open taxonomy. Marked in red: what is moving now, each traced to its source.

Plan with us Architecture

Areas · 6 Technologies · 253 Industries · 3

01The layered map

Layer by layer, from the open taxonomy.

Each domain this platform draws on, with its layers and the technologies in each. Open a layer for what each technology does and the standard behind it.

AI systems

AI from model to accountable operation: edge inference and model optimisation, foundation models for Earth observation and geospatial work, time-series and sensor AI, multimodal fusion and supervised agentic operations, federated and privacy-preserving learning, physical AI and robotics within stated red lines, MLOps, evaluation and model risk, and the governance frameworks that apply to each.

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Edge inference, model serving and optimisation

Technologies · 10 · Frontier · 1

Embedded and on-device inference
Edge server inference
Quantisation
Distillation, pruning and sparsity
Compilers and runtimes
Serving: batching, caching and scheduling
Parameter-efficient fine-tuning
Energy-aware inference
Split and collaborative inference
Safety-related inference

Foundation models for Earth observation and geospatial

Technologies · 9 · Frontier · 3

EO foundation models
Training data and labels
Land cover and change detection
Hazard and exposure mapping
SAR interferometry and deformation analysis
Geospatial embeddings and similarity search
Super-resolution and gap filling
AI weather and climate emulators
Geospatial model metadata

Time-series and sensor AI

Technologies · 8 · Frontier · 1

Anomaly detection on sensor streams
Forecasting and nowcasting
Predictive maintenance
Sensor quality control and drift correction
Seismic and acoustic event detection
Hydrological time series
Network telemetry analytics
Virtual and soft sensors

Multimodal fusion and agentic operations

Technologies · 7 · Frontier · 3

Multisensor fusion
Geospatial knowledge graphs
Retrieval and grounding on governed data
Supervised agentic operations
Intent-driven operations
Tool permissions and action limits
Digital twins of sites and networks

Federated and privacy-preserving learning

Technologies · 7 · Frontier · 1

Federated learning across sites
Federated learning in 5G systems
Differential privacy
Secure aggregation and multiparty computation
De-identification
ML in future networks framework
Synthetic data

Physical AI and robotics (within red lines)

Technologies · 7 · Frontier · 2

Drones for site survey and sensor placement
Inspection robots for sites and facilities
Collaborative robots
Functional safety of AI-enabled machines
Simulation and sim-to-real transfer
Embodied foundation models
Red lines: no weapons, targeting or unlawful tracking

MLOps

Technologies · 7

AI system lifecycle processes
Data quality management
Experiment tracking and reproducibility
Continuous training and deployment to edge fleets
Drift and performance monitoring
Model and dataset bills of materials
Model provenance and signing

Evaluation, model risk and AI governance

Technologies · 10

Performance evaluation
Robustness testing
Bias assessment
Adversarial testing and red-teaming
Uncertainty and calibration reporting
Model risk management
AI management system
AI risk management
AI impact assessment
Regulatory and policy alignment

AI-RAN and Open RAN

Disaggregated, software-defined and AI-assisted radio access: the O-RAN architecture and its open interfaces, 7.2x fronthaul, RAN intelligent controllers with xApps and rApps, SMO and O-Cloud, accelerated L1, shared GPU infrastructure for RAN and AI, AI/ML in the 3GPP air interface, energy saving, and the test and integration work that makes multi-supplier RAN deployable.

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O-RAN architecture and open interfaces

Technologies · 7

O-RAN reference architecture
O-RU (radio unit)
O-DU (distributed unit)
O-CU (central unit, CP and UP)
Open F1, E1, X2 and Xn interoperability
Shared O-RU and multi-operator Open RAN
Deployment scenarios and white-box hardware

Fronthaul (7.2x split) and transport

Technologies · 8

7.2x lower-layer split, CUS-Plane
Fronthaul management plane
eCPRI and radio over Ethernet
Time-sensitive networking for fronthaul
Fronthaul synchronisation topologies (LLS-C1 to C4)
Fronthaul security
Fronthaul multiplexers and gateways
Xhaul packet-switched transport

RAN intelligent controllers, xApps and rApps

Technologies · 8 · Frontier · 1

Near-real-time RIC and E2
E2 service models
xApps
Non-real-time RIC and A1
rApps and the R1 interface
Conflict mitigation between applications
RIC use cases
Real-time control at the DU (dApps)

SMO, O-Cloud and accelerated L1

Technologies · 8

Service management and orchestration (SMO)
O1 management interface
O-Cloud and the O2 interface
Cloud-native RAN functions
Acceleration abstraction layer (AAL)
Channel coding and FEC offload
Timing in the O-Cloud
Continuous integration and delivery for RAN software

AI-RAN: shared accelerated infrastructure

Technologies · 7 · Frontier · 5

AI-for-RAN
AI-and-RAN (shared GPU for RAN and AI)
AI-on-RAN (edge AI services on RAN sites)
Software-defined L1 on GPUs
RAN-first workload scheduling
Isolation between RAN and AI tenants
AI-RAN site power and cooling

AI/ML in the air interface and network management

Technologies · 8 · Frontier · 1

AI/ML for CSI feedback
AI/ML beam management
AI/ML positioning
AI/ML for NG-RAN functions
AI/ML model lifecycle management
Network data analytics
O-RAN AI/ML workflow
5G system support for AI/ML applications

Energy saving and efficiency

Technologies · 6

Network energy saving features
Carrier and cell switch-off by policy
Base station energy measurement
Network energy efficiency KPIs
Site power systems
Massive MIMO and power amplifier optimisation

Testing, integration and security

Technologies · 8 · Frontier · 1

Open testing and integration centre labs
Conformance testing
Interoperability testing
End-to-end performance testing
RAN security testing
RF and channel emulation
RAN digital twins
Software supply chain for RAN

Satellite and space systems

The space segment end to end: orbits and constellations, spacecraft buses, communications and Earth observation payloads, inter-satellite links, tracking and command, space safety, launch, and the licensing and filings that let a system operate over a site.

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Orbits and constellations

Technologies · 8 · Frontier · 2

LEO broadband constellations
MEO constellations
GEO high-throughput satellites
HEO (Molniya and Tundra-type) orbits
Sun-synchronous and polar orbits for EO
Constellation design and coverage analysis
HAPS and HIBS stratospheric platforms
Very low Earth orbit (VLEO)

Spacecraft buses and platforms

Technologies · 9 · Frontier · 1

Smallsat and CubeSat platforms
Electrical power subsystems
Attitude and orbit control
Propulsion (chemical, electric, low-toxicity)
On-board data handling and avionics buses
Thermal control and structures
Radiation effects and EEE parts
Environmental verification
Flight software and software-defined satellites

Communications payloads, NTN and direct-to-device

Technologies · 9 · Frontier · 3

Transparent (bent-pipe) payloads
Regenerative payloads and on-board processing
Multibeam and digitally beamformed payloads
5G NR over satellite (NR-NTN)
IoT over satellite (NB-IoT and LTE-M NTN)
Direct-to-device in mobile bands
Mobile satellite services in L and S band
Store-and-forward satellite IoT
Satellite broadcast and multicast

Inter-satellite and space-to-ground links

Technologies · 7 · Frontier · 4

RF inter-satellite links
Optical inter-satellite links
Optical space-to-ground links
Pointing, acquisition and tracking
Space networking and delay-tolerant routing
GEO data relay for LEO missions
Space-based quantum key distribution

Earth observation payload classes

Technologies · 10 · Frontier · 1

Multispectral optical imagers
Hyperspectral imagers
Synthetic aperture radar (X, C, L band)
Thermal infrared and fire detection
Atmospheric and greenhouse gas sounders
GNSS radio occultation and reflectometry
Space-based AIS and ADS-B reception
RF spectrum sensing from orbit
Lidar and radar altimetry
On-board processing and AI for EO

Tracking, telemetry and command and space safety

Technologies · 9 · Frontier · 1

TT&C radio links
Telemetry and telecommand protocols
Ranging and orbit determination
Space link security
Conjunction assessment and collision avoidance
Space situational awareness sensing
Space weather monitoring
Debris mitigation and end-of-life disposal
Rendezvous, proximity operations and on-orbit servicing

Launch, licensing and regulation

Technologies · 8

Launch and rideshare integration
ITU filings: advance publication, coordination, notification
NGSO–GSO sharing and EPFD
Landing rights and market access
Remote sensing licensing
International space law and registration
Export controls for space items
Space sustainability frameworks

Frontier and research

Technologies · 6 · Frontier · 6

6G integrated terrestrial and non-terrestrial networks
Orbital edge computing
Lunar and cislunar communications and navigation
Autonomous constellation operations
Space-based solar power
In-space assembly and manufacturing

5G and 6G radio access networks

The radio access network from site to spectrum: macro, small cells, DAS and repeaters, massive MIMO, NR bands and TDD synchronisation, NR features such as RedCap, positioning and sidelink, private and shared networks, Wi-Fi coexistence, 6G and ISAC, and the planning and assurance that keep it working.

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