Tech Companies Gather at Curiosity Lab for Daylong Forum

Peachtree Corners’ adeptness at collaborating with industry giants drew conference away from Georgia Tech.

Giants in the network technology industry and all the other components that it touches have known for decades about the talent and knowledge at Atlanta’s Georgia Institute of Technology. What more people are being made aware of, however, is similar brilliance right here in Peachtree Corners. That’s why Dense Networks is bringing its Connected Cities Tour to Peachtree Corners T-Mobile 5G Center at The Curiosity Lab.

Connected Cities Tours are part of the Dense Networks Social Think Tank which brings together experts from the tech, academic, government, enterprise and legal sectors to discuss the business models, technology architectures and action plans that are enabling cities, cars, buildings and things to utilize smart technology.

Titled “Getting to Smart,” the daylong event will focus on 5G, IoT, broadband, cloud and the use cases they are enabling. It’s scheduled for 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Thursday, April 28. Admission is free, but registration is required.

“We purposely didn’t want this workshop in Atlanta,” Peter Murray, executive director of Dense Networks told Peachtree Corners Magazine. “We deliberately sought Peachtree Corners because it is doing the right stuff the right way.”

Murray said the last conference was held at Georgia Tech, but he was excited about moving it to this new venue. He said that the Orlando area where his company is based is a heavy user of autonomous shuttles.

“There aren’t many places you can find them,” he said. “And we use Beep, just like the system at Technology Park.”

Meet PAUL, y’all

Part of the workshop, a component of the Smart Cities Council Infrastructure Innovation Forum, will include demonstrations and a ride in the autonomous shuttle that loops Technology Parkway.

Named PAUL (Piloting Autonomous Use Locally), the shuttles, which can seat eight people, operate daily from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. on the city’s Technology Parkway-Curiosity Lab route with stops at Hampton Inn, City Hall, City Hall (South), Technology Parkway (South), Innovation Center, Research Drive and Anderby Brewing on weekdays, except holidays.

As the first location where autonomous shuttles from two different OEMs (Original Equipment Manufacturers) interact on the same public roadway doing connected vehicle testing and other things over a 5G wireless network, Murray said The Curiosity Lab in Peachtree Corners is a great example of how to build an innovation ecosystem.

Speakers will discuss how 5G is enabling innovation across many sectors, from transportation to education to city operations.

Besides the shuttle demonstrations, “we will also discuss broadband funding and solutions with demonstrations of 5G and IoT in the afternoon,” added Murray.

When asked who should attend the forum, Murray said it’s targeted at folks in education, government, broadband and network technology, but even the curious are welcomed.

“We identify how complex technologies like 5G, IoT, AI and cyber are transforming cities, transportation, public safety and real estate,” he said.

Brandon Branham, chief technology officer of the city of Peachtree Corners will be among speakers.

Register here.