Where ideas meet experiments

Lab Facilities

Spaces and testbeds for exploring the next generation of connected systems.

Our locations

The SYSTRON Lab is based in the Ian Wand Building, Campus East, at the University of York. We also have a presence in the nearby Institute for Safe Autonomy (ISA) and in City College, Thessaloniki — the University of York’s Europe Campus.

University of York Computer Science building

Campus East · York

The Ian Wand Building

The home of the University of York’s Computer Science Department, with offices and a specialist research lab for our team.

Institute for Safe Autonomy building at the University of York

Campus East · York

Institute for Safe Autonomy

A £15m purpose-built facility with experimental laboratories for robotics, advanced communications and quantum technologies, including separate networks for robotic and autonomous systems.

Explore the test spaces

Research testbeds

Thread edge testbed

A dedicated platform for experiments with IoT radio networks and Thread-based (IEEE 802.15.4) networking.

Read our NDSS 2025 paper
The lab’s Thread-based IoT radio network testbed
Our experimental setup for investigating IoT radio networks.

Research testbeds

5G standalone networks

Open-RAN

A fully operational Open-RAN network supporting experiments in connectivity, xApps and robotic control.

Split 8

gNB stackOCUDU
Radio front endUSRP X310
Clock distributionOctoClock-G CDA-2990
From the network to the handset
5G standalone network testbed connected to a Pixel handset
The 5G SA network setup.
Pixel handset used to validate the 5G connection
Commercial handset connectivity.
Connected robotic control

We extended the testbed with a Quectel RMU500-EK 5G modem connected to a Jetson Nano–based mini robot. The robot is remotely operated over the 5G SA network, demonstrating real-time, network-driven robotic control.

The modular, programmable testbed enables experiments aligned with current and emerging 5G/6G use cases.

5G network setup for remote operation of the mini robot
Integrating the robot with the 5G network.
Jetson Nano–based mini robot
The connected mini robot.

Split 7.2

gNB stackOCUDU
Radio unitBenetel RAN650
Clock distributionFibroLAN Falcon-RX/812/G
Open-RAN Split 7.2 testbed
The Open-RAN Split 7.2 testbed.
Benetel radio unit in the Open-RAN Split 7.2 testbed
The Benetel RAN650 radio unit.
Network switch used in the Open-RAN Split 7.2 testbed
Switching and clock-distribution hardware.

AI-RAN

Further details coming soon.