A team of researchers have tested their new technology which allows them to create a Wi-Fi network underwater.
According to bbc.co.uk, researchers from the University of Buffalo in New York are aiming to create a system standard that would allow underwater interaction and data sharing easier. This is because that although wireless communication underwater has been around for quite some time, it hasn’t been possible to communicate between different systems due to differing infrastructures.
The team recently tested their new underwater modems, which weigh around 40 pounds, in Lake Erie, reports wired.com.
Normal Wi-Fi uses radio signals to send information but although radio signals can travel through water, the signal range is very limited and tends to be unstable. Instead, the researchers are using sound waves – much like marine animals do.
If the team’s project is successful, the technology could pave the way for more reliable warning systems for tsunamis.
Lead researcher, Tommaso Melodia, said that the technology is currently in its infancy but additional research could lead to more reliable, secure underwater Wi-Fi networks.
“A submerged wireless network will give us an unprecedented ability to collect and analyse data from our oceans in real time,” he said. “Making this information available to anyone with a smartphone or computer, especially when a tsunami or other type of disaster occurs, could help save lives.”
