Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL)

Internet of Things of the Sea

Ocean observing systems have always been data limited for many reasons: harsh environment, expensive infrastructure, and low bandwidth communication options to name a few. This student team will work to create a low-power, open source, high speed underwater communication network to bring connectivity to sensors for real-time data acquisition. This project will require electronic design and software protocol development for a wireless connection between a seafloor platform (10-30 meters water depth) and closely located surface buoy. The communication network the student team will work to create can be based off existing protocols but adapted to work in a noisy underwater landscape. Performance goals for the student team: Data rate of 10Mbit/s, power less than 1 watt, intelligent and reliable software design which adjusts to environmental conditions: sea state, water clarity, sediment interference, etc. The subsurface unit will need to be enclosed in a watertight pressure housing, powered by batteries and capable of interfacing with external sensors for data transmission. The surface buoy needs to be solar powered and have a cellular or Wi-Fi connection to land. The end product will be deployed at PNNL Sequim Bay test site. The student team will work to create a functional prototype of a wireless communication system for underwater use. This should include the physical electronics, schematics, and bill of materials and whatever enclosures or containers used to house the setup. A GitHub repository of the software developed for the wireless communication.