11 Cyber-physical infrastructure
A vision for cyber- physical infrastructure
In a recently published report, the Robotics Growth Partnership sets out its vision for a future cyber-physical infrastructure for the UK. It is a compelling vision of how networked virtual and physical tools could form an ecosystem accessible to all that will power societal and economic transformation. The report also sees a significant role for standards in creating an infrastructure that works for all
The UK government has clear ambitions for the UK to become a ‘science superpower’ and has reached out to scientists, industry and academia for ideas about how this might be achieved. One response came from the Robotics Growth Partnership (see pop-up p12) with its report ‘The Cyber-Physical Infrastructure - Empowering innovation, robots and smart machines to enhance prosperity, resilience, sustainability and security.’ The report describes Cyber Physical
Infrastructure (CPI) as ‘… a coming wave of networked and physical tools that are as accessible as the web…’. It goes on to say, ‘…blending the virtual and the physical enables us to design
and experiment quickly and safely in the virtual world before operating in the real world. It enables richer visualisation and understanding during operation, leading to better maintenance, fewer failures, less down time and less risk.’ Working with CPI, the report envisages that businesses can make a step change in productivity and enhance their resilience. It would also allow the UK to face the major challenges of sustainability, security, improved healthcare, prosperity and preparing for a net zero future. The report addresses the crucial question of how this infrastructure would be created and run, suggesting parallels with how the internet and the web operate, with the objective
A CPI based on shared development and open
principles will help businesses make a step change in producitivity and enhance resilience
of “ubiquitous use through shared development and open principles.” The idea that such an ecosystem would be open and accessible to all organizations in the UK wanting to use it to develop innovations is critical to its success. The report makes the case for the Government to use its convening power to kick start this ecosystem, positioning the UK as a global leader in CPI.
In this way a market could be
created on a favourable basis for all participants, instead of most of the opportunity, convening power and control ending up in the hands of a few large corporations.
For Ben Sheridan, Sector Lead - Digital, BSI, this would be the best option for the whole UK to realize the benefits of a CPI, “In the same way you drive a car and pay taxes
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