UK firm pioneers data centres using lampposts
A UK-based company, Conflow Power Group, is deploying solar-powered smart lampposts called iLamps that double as distributed AI data centres, with plans to install 50,000 units in Nigeria. Each iLamp contains low-power computing hardware suitable for lightweight AI tasks and can also function as surveillance devices with number plate and facial recognition capabilities. While experts acknowledge potential for small-scale applications, they note the technology cannot replace large, centralized data centres needed for intensive AI processing.
- ▪Conflow Power Group has signed an agreement to deploy 50,000 iLamps in Katsina, a Nigerian state.
- ▪Each iLamp is solar-powered and contains a low-energy computer chip capable of running basic AI tasks.
- ▪The iLamps can operate as AI-powered surveillance cameras with number plate and facial recognition features.
- ▪CPG chairman Edward Fitzpatrick claims the chip inside each unit will be 'fried' if tampered with to prevent theft.
- ▪Katsina will earn revenue by leasing processing power from the iLamps, with CPG taking a 20% cut after three years.
Opening excerpt (first ~120 words) tap to expand
Bright idea? UK firm pioneers data centres using lampposts9 hours agoShareSaveAdd as preferred on GoogleConflow Power GroupA group of iLamps in Morocco There have been many attempts to put data centres in unusual places over the years - Microsoft put a data centre under the sea, Elon Musk has suggested putting them in space.Now a UK firm is betting on data centres using thousands of connected smart lampposts, and has signed a formal agreement with a Nigerian state to deploy 50,000 of them.Warwickshire-based Conflow Power Group Limited (CPG) says networked together its solar-powered iLamp units "double as a revenue-generating distributed AI data centre".
…
Excerpt limited to ~120 words for fair-use compliance. The full article is at Bbc.
Discussion
0 commentsMore from Bbc
