Verizon and Responder Corp. have named the initial class in the 5G First Responder Lab, an incubator for 5G approaches to public safety.
The 5G First Responder Lab is located in Verizon’s DC Lab at Alley. A total of 15 companies in three “cohorts” will participate for three months each over a year-long period. The participating companies were chosen from more than 50 candidates.
The initial lineup includes:
- Adcor Magnetic Systems: Sensors to detect, identify, track and correlate on a digital 3D environment
- Aerial Applications: Drone solutions to turn visual data into actionable insights
- Blueforce Development: Situational awareness solutions and sensors to enhance field operations and communication
- Kiana Analytics: A physical safety and security platform with engagement analytics for real-time location/situational awareness
- Qwake Technologies: Augmented reality products to help firefighters see in smoke-filled, zero-visibility, hazardous environments
Each was chosen on its ability to contribute to one or more of four phases of use of 5G for public safety:
- Ready: Enhancing first responder’s ability to prepare for and prevent an emergency
- Respond: Improving the way first responders react to, manage, and execute during a lifesaving emergency event
- Recover: Resources to help communities return to normal following disaster events
- Rebuild: Hardening defense systems and applying lessons from previous disaster events to prevent future loss
“5G is transformative and will bring new possibilities in technology,” said Nick Nilan, director of public sector product development, Verizon in a prepared statement. “The companies chosen for the 5G First Responder Lab could bring unseen, potentially life-saving innovations to public safety.”
Wireless carriers like Verizon and AT&T are investing heavily in these 5G incubator efforts to help develop unique applications for 5G. AT&T is active with their AT&T Foundry program.
