Underwater IoT Technology Expands Ocean Research and Connectivity: A Dive into the Future

underwater iot

Nestled by a serene park in Pompano Beach, Florida, Wahoo Bay, with its half-acre of shimmering shallow water, is home to colorful tropical fish and precious seagrass. But there’s more beneath the surface; it serves as an experimental ground for cutting-edge underwater technology set to revolutionize marine research.

Originally conceived as a snorkel park seven years ago, Wahoo Bay’s journey was hindered by COVID-19, which ultimately turned out to be beneficial. This pause spurred the visionaries behind Wahoo Bay to transform the site into an educational hub, attracting university scientists keen on using the marine area to test new underwater technologies.

As such, Wahoo Bay became a prime location for exploring the Internet of Underwater Things (IoUT), a burgeoning field with vast potential in various arenas, from scientific research to conservation efforts.

Underwater IoT can be tricky

Existing wireless technologies like Bluetooth and WiFi, which use radio waves, don’t work well underwater. Radio signals weaken significantly underwater, making it tough for standard IoT devices to function properly.

Ocean IoT often relies on acoustic signals instead, which travel better through water.

Waleed Akbar from the MIT Media Lab believes that developing underwater IoT is tough but essential. He points out that we know more about the moon’s far side than our own oceans.

Underwater IoT isn’t just about satisfying curiosity. These devices could transmit crucial data from unexplored regions, providing valuable information for environmental monitoring. For instance, they could measure contaminants or observe coral reefs. This data could play a pivotal role in tackling the climate crisis.

Using Acoustic Energy to Power New Projects

The research team at MIT, including Akbar, is pushing the boundaries with their work on low-cost, low-power, and batteryless IoT technologies designed for underwater use.

One standout innovation from the group is a wireless, battery-free underwater camera. This camera harnesses acoustic energy, which it converts from mechanical energy of sound waves into electrical energy, and employs these same sound waves to transmit data.

Such technology promises significant advancements in areas like marine-life studies, submarine surveillance, and various types of underwater monitoring.

Akbar highlighted the unique challenges posed by the aquatic environment.

Unlike with terrestrial routers, underwater devices cannot connect to a central entity. Instead, there is a base station to which sensors communicate via acoustic signals.

However, the current state of acoustic signaling comes with its own set of challenges, such as limited bandwidth, high latency, and significant costs. Energy consumption also remains an issue since previous underwater IoT devices relied heavily on limited-capacity batteries, making scalability difficult.

“If we aim to deploy sensors on a large scale or cover vast oceanic areas, these sensors must be cost-effective,” Akbar remarked.

The exploration of underwater acoustic communication has a long history, reaching back to 1945 when the US Navy developed an underwater phone that utilized sound waves in place of radio waves.

Moving to the present, scientists and engineers are progressively enhancing this technology to propel the concept of an underwater IoT network.

Applications for current projects range from autonomous underwater vehicles, which can detect ancient shipwrecks, to sensors aiding in disaster forecasting and networks measuring ocean temperatures.

However, the effectiveness of today’s technology often falls short due to the limitations of battery life and dependencies on surface ships for power and data connections.

Dimitris Pados, a professor at Florida Atlantic University and the head of the Center for Connected Autonomy and Artificial Intelligence, emphasized the need for advanced technology to monitor and model the ocean environment. Optimal research on climate change impacts requires access to ocean regions that current technologies cannot reach.

Akbar noted the growing attention in this field, driven by the development of technology and an increasing awareness of the necessity to understand oceanic changes.

This fusion of acoustic energy with IoT devices signifies a promising leap forward in underwater research and technology deployment. The advancements hold potential for a better comprehension of our oceans and the environmental shifts occurring within them.

A Hub of Ocean Technology

In late May, Wahoo Bay witnessed its first ever educational field trip. Fourth-grade students, armed with swim masks and pool noodles, dove into the waters to explore the underwater world.

They eagerly swam above vibrant porkfish and silver pinfish, marveling at the marine life. For many of them, it was their debut snorkeling experience.

The bay’s collaboration with Florida Atlantic University paves the way for groundbreaking underwater innovations.

Professors, students, and researchers are set to introduce cutting-edge technologies at this site, with numerous projects already in progress.

Among the innovations, the team has installed advanced water and weather-monitoring systems.

Moreover, they are working on AI-driven fish-identification software powered by a self-cleaning 360-degree underwater camera.

Future technological advancements in the bay are promising.

Plans include the introduction of underwater GPS and AI robotic fish. According to Pados, these robotic fish will function like a movable network of sensors, offering flexibility and precision by connecting and positioning themselves as required.

Wahoo Bay serves as an experimental space but is also designed to engage visitors.

Both elementary-school students on exploratory field trips and Pompano Beach locals will have the opportunity to witness these technological advancements firsthand.

Wyre, one of the supporters, envisions these innovations as a source of inspiration for the younger generation.

He believes exposure to such technology will spark new ideas in kids, contributing to the development of the scientists of tomorrow.

Wahoo Bay’s dynamic environment not only fosters technological growth but also stimulates curiosity and learning among its visitors.

It stands as a beacon for marine education and environmental stewardship, encouraging the next wave of oceanic explorers and researchers.

Posted by Thomas Callaghan

I hold a degree in Marine Biology and have spent years conducting fieldwork, from the coral reefs of the Pacific to the deep trenches of the Atlantic. My work focuses on understanding the intricate relationships within marine ecosystems and the impact of human activity on these fragile environments.