--- title: "Pilots: Frontier labs | Nexus Observatory" description: "Pilots, inside Frontier labs: near-real-time RIC and E2, E2 service models, xApps, non-real-time RIC and A1 and more. Every item is traced to its…" url: https://observatory.global/labs/pilots/ publisher: Nexus Observatory Inc. updated: 2026-10-29 --- [Nexus Observatory](https://observatory.global/) / [Frontier labs](https://observatory.global/labs/) / **Pilots** # New technology, a real site, a written plan. Pilots, inside Frontier labs: near-real-time RIC and E2, E2 service models, xApps, non-real-time RIC and A1 and more. Every item is traced to its specification, from O-RAN WG3 Near-RT RIC Architecture to O-RAN WG3 E2 Application Protocol (E2AP), and runs on the open Observatory Protocol. [Plan with us](https://observatory.global/contact/) Architecture [The protocol](https://observatory.global/protocol/specification/) **Technologies**: 9 **At the frontier**: 1 **Protocol functions**: 3 of 8 **Industries served**: 3 Reference design, drawn to scale · drag to turn · hover a part **01** What it is ## RAN intelligent controllers, xApps and rApps. 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. 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. Each technology below carries what it is, what we do with it, and the standard it is drawn against. AI-RAN and Open RAN ### Near-real-time RIC and E2 A platform at 10 ms–1 s timescales that hosts xApps controlling RAN nodes over the E2 interface. We design, integrate and operate. O-RAN WG3 Near-RT RIC Architecture · O-RAN WG3 E2 Application Protocol (E2AP) AI-RAN and Open RAN ### E2 service models Standard data and control models for KPIs, RAN control and cell configuration exposed to xApps. We design and integrate. O-RAN WG3 E2SM-KPM · O-RAN WG3 E2SM-RC · O-RAN WG3 E2SM-CCC AI-RAN and Open RAN ### xApps Applications for traffic steering, interference handling, slicing assurance and scheduling at near-real-time scale. We design, integrate and operate. O-RAN WG3 Near-RT RIC Architecture · O-RAN WG1 Use Cases Detailed Specification AI-RAN and Open RAN ### Non-real-time RIC and A1 Policy and model management above 1 s timescales inside the SMO, sending guidance to the near-RT RIC over A1. We design, integrate and operate. O-RAN WG2 Non-RT RIC Architecture · O-RAN WG2 A1 Application Protocol AI-RAN and Open RAN ### rApps and the R1 interface Portable non-real-time applications for energy, planning and optimisation using SMO services over R1. We design, integrate and operate. O-RAN WG2 R1 interface specifications AI-RAN and Open RAN ### Conflict mitigation between applications Detecting and resolving cases where two apps try to change the same parameter in opposite directions. We design and operate. O-RAN WG3 Near-RT RIC Architecture (conflict mitigation) AI-RAN and Open RAN ### RIC use cases Traffic steering, QoE optimisation, massive MIMO tuning, slice assurance and anomaly detection as defined use cases. We design, integrate and operate. O-RAN WG1 Use Cases Detailed Specification **Frontier** · AI-RAN and Open RAN ### Real-time control at the DU (dApps) Research into sub-10 ms control loops running next to the DU on live radio data. We design. O-RAN next Generation Research Group (nGRG) reports AI systems ### Drones for site survey and sensor placement Uncrewed aircraft for tower inspection, terrain survey and placing or retrieving sensors under aviation rules. We design, integrate and operate. Canadian Aviation Regulations Part IX (RPAS) · ASTM F3411 (remote ID) · JARUS SORA **02** Architecture ## Where it sits, and what it speaks. Pilots draws on 4 domains and 32 layers of the spectrum; the highlighted layers carry this area. It speaks 3 of the protocol's 8 core functions. Edge inference, model serving and optimisation 10 Foundation models for Earth observation and geospatial 9 Time-series and sensor AI 8 Multimodal fusion and agentic operations 7 Federated and privacy-preserving learning 7 Physical AI and robotics (within red lines) 7 MLOps 7 Evaluation, model risk and AI governance 10 O-RAN architecture and open interfaces 7 Fronthaul (7.2x split) and transport 8 RAN intelligent controllers, xApps and rApps 8 SMO, O-Cloud and accelerated L1 8 AI-RAN: shared accelerated infrastructure 7 AI/ML in the air interface and network management 8 Energy saving and efficiency 6 Testing, integration and security 8 01**Join** Identity, attestation quote, signed policy. 02**Admit** Admitted for a stated scope, nothing wider. 03**Describe** What, where, how and by whom, with calibration. 04**Time** One clock across the grid, with its error bound. 05**Observe** Every value with quality and provenance. 06**Qualify** Tested against the specification, state on record. 07**Federate** Signed exchange across grids and trust domains. 08**Orchestrate** Software and configuration by signed plan. **03** On the grid ## Every site joins one observing grid. The open networks on the grid today, over real relief and the geodesic cells we count them into, filtered to the space domain this area serves. A site built here enrols into the same grid. **04** In the field ## Where this runs, sector by sector. 3 deployment scenarios from the sector research that rely on pilots. [Scientific Research-infrastructure gap-filling nodesObservatory-as-a-service for research infrastructures that must extend coverage under their own quality rules.](https://observatory.global/sectors/scientific/) [Transport Non-federal automated weather observing for small airportsAviation-grade stations under the civil-aviation authority's advisory circular; pricing not researched.](https://observatory.global/sectors/transport/) [Defence-adjacent (civil dual-use) Research and development route through the defence science programmeA science-and-technology programme on all-domain situational awareness.](https://observatory.global/sectors/defence-adjacent/) **05** Open and enterprise ## Open by default. Enterprise by contract. The open counterpart lives on the main site for anyone to read and run. The enterprise service is designed, deployed and operated with you, under contract. Open, on the main site - Benchmark methods - Pilot reports, published either way Enterprise, on this site - Research pilots - Prototype engineering **06** The rest of the line ## Frontier labs, area by area. [Frontier labs BenchmarksOpen data, one method, comparable results.](https://observatory.global/labs/benchmarks/) [Frontier labs AI-RAN and 6GSensing and communication on shared compute.](https://observatory.global/labs/ai-ran-and-6g/) [Frontier labs Space and NTNDirect-to-device and new payloads, tested.](https://observatory.global/labs/space-and-ntn/) [Frontier labs Physical AIDrones and robots, inside published red lines.](https://observatory.global/labs/physical-ai/) [Frontier labs Into the productFrom a result to a qualified release.](https://observatory.global/labs/into-the-product/) ## Bring us the site. Survey, design, deployment and operation for pilots. The form names who receives your details. [Talk to us](https://observatory.global/contact/) [contact@observatory.global](mailto:contact@observatory.global?subject=Frontier%20labs%3A%20Pilots) [Nexus Observatory](https://observatory.global/)**Frontier labs** . The frontier, taken into the field.[Talk to us](https://observatory.global/contact/) Frontier labs - [Pilots](https://observatory.global/labs/pilots/) - [Benchmarks](https://observatory.global/labs/benchmarks/) - [AI-RAN and 6G](https://observatory.global/labs/ai-ran-and-6g/) - [Space and NTN](https://observatory.global/labs/space-and-ntn/) - [Physical AI](https://observatory.global/labs/physical-ai/) - [Into the product](https://observatory.global/labs/into-the-product/) Technologies - [Edge inference, model serving and optimisation](https://observatory.global/technologies/ai/edge-inference-model-serving-and-optimisation/) - [Foundation models for Earth observation and geospatial](https://observatory.global/technologies/ai/foundation-models-for-earth-observation-and-geospatial/) - [O-RAN architecture and open interfaces](https://observatory.global/technologies/airan/o-ran-architecture-and-open-interfaces/) - [Fronthaul (7.2x split) and transport](https://observatory.global/technologies/airan/fronthaul-7-2x-split-and-transport/) - [Orbits and constellations](https://observatory.global/technologies/satellite/orbits-and-constellations/) - [Spacecraft buses and platforms](https://observatory.global/technologies/satellite/spacecraft-buses-and-platforms/) - [Macro, small cells, DAS and repeaters](https://observatory.global/technologies/ran/macro-small-cells-das-and-repeaters/) Industries - [Climate](https://observatory.global/industries/climate/) - [Research](https://observatory.global/industries/research/) - [Education](https://observatory.global/industries/education/) Service platforms - [Observatory Protocol](https://observatory.global/protocol/) - [Protocol & Grid](https://observatory.global/grid-services/) - [Software](https://observatory.global/software/) - [Hardware & power](https://observatory.global/hardware/) - [Sensors & instruments](https://observatory.global/sensors/) - [Connectivity](https://observatory.global/connectivity/) - [Edge compute & AI](https://observatory.global/edge-ai/) © 2026 Nexus Observatory Inc. 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