The Progress 1000: London's most influential people 2019 – Technology: Engineering

Project manager, UK Power Networks

Bridger’s latest projects include overseeing teams constructing a high-voltage tunnel 70ft below the streets of London that provides high-security power to the American embassy at Nine Elms. Bridger also loves sharing her civil engineering expertise with the next generation of tunnellers in schools around the capital.

Chief executive, React Robotics
Last year, the start-up’s robo-canine called DogBot (inspired by the Star Wars AT-AT, All Terrain Armored Transport walkers), took its first self-taught steps after five years’ work. Now the team is working on making the robot’s movements more natural and agile so it can help with “mundane and maddening” human jobs.

Founder of Unmanned Life
The Shoreditch start-up has developed “life-saving” software that enables AI-powered swarms of up to 250 quadcopter drones to work together and fly in autonomous formations that adapt to their surroundings. Operating over a 5G network, the UAVs (unmanned aerial vehicles) can beam back accurate data from burning buildings by using multiple specialist cameras, such as one with heat sensors, another equipped with sonar to check for structural damage and others to check for survivors. Truly amazing.

Co-founder, Oxbotica
The self-driving car start-up this year announced a deal with Addison Lee to launch a driverless taxi service in London by 2021, with the companies planning to plot 250,000 miles of British roads to help robo-cabs avoid obstacles.

Co-founders, Starship Technologies
Starship were the first tech startup to trial delivery “ground drones” on the streets of London. The tub-like robots have a large compartment to hold takeaways or two shopping bags. Its aim is to “do to local deliveries what Skype did to telecommunications”.

PhD student, Queen Mary University of London, School of Engineering and Materials Science
This scientist invented a child-sized robotic hand for youngsters who have lost a limb. The pneumatic “soft prosthetic” hand, made from silicone, can grip objects more effectively than hard plastic models.

Inventor, Gravity Industries
As a real-life Iron Man and former Canary Wharf oil trader, Browning was last spotted in London hovering over the Thames with jets strapped to his arms to promote future plans for a rocket racing event. An ex-Royal Marine reservist, he follows a gruelling fitness regime to boost the strength in his arms and shoulders.

CEO and founder, Pavegen
Powering future cities one step at a time, this technology uses spring-loaded, rubberised smart paving slabs to generate energy every time someone takes a step on one. Pavegen’s latest project in the City saw 150,000 steps creating enough power to run an electric car for half a mile. Clever.

Managing director, Plexal
Roughan was elevated from chief operating officer to run this innovation hub, which uses the old press and broadcasting centres in the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park. The tech hub is designed as an “ecosystem and community where large and small companies collide”, allowing them to benefit from each other’s creativity.

Co-founder and chief product officer, Humanising Autonomy
This summer they sealed a £4 million funding round amid huge interest in their “intent prediction” technology, which includes developing software that teaches driverless cars to avoid hitting pedestrians by calculating what humans will do as they cross a road.