Maritime Mesh Networking at MITRE
Evolving the Ducks for Maritime Technology
Underwater is a unique environment that makes it challenging for us to deploy a typical ClusterDuck Network. The Ducks communicate through radio waves specifically LoRa radio. These radio waves attenuate quickly when attempting to propagate through the water. An alternative to radio waves for this challenging environment, is acoustic signals (sonar). We integrated acoustic modems into the Ducks and now tested them in controlled environments at MITRE BlueTech Lab.
We are excited to announce our collaboration with MITRE BlueTech Lab, a leading organization in maritime technology development. Our partnership with MITRE’s BlueTech Lab marks a significant milestone in our mission to advance resilient connectivity. OWL has deployed Ducks on land, in the air, and in space. Now we are finally deploying our Ducks in their natural habitat — at sea.
Douglas Robbins, Vice President, Engineering and Prototyping at MITRE Labs says, “The MITRE BlueTech Lab will accelerate and provide a foundation for underwater research and innovation for positive impact and help make New England a global nexus of maritime research” (www.mitre.org). OWL’s presence at MITRE’s BlueTech Lab is driven by our shared commitment to advancing maritime technology and addressing the challenges of underwater communication. By collaborating with MITRE, OWL gains access to state-of-the-art facilities, expertise, and resources that enable us to test and validate our technologies in real-world underwater environments.
OWL’s work at MITRE was facilitated through MassChallenge and the NATO DIANA program, which fosters connections between organizations involved in defense innovation. MassChallenge identified MITRE as a strategic resource for the NATO DIANA cohort especially OWL for advancing research and development efforts in underwater technology. Kelly Becker from MassChallenge quoted:
MITRE’s BlueTech Lab is focused on fostering innovation in the maritime domain align well with MassChallenge’s mission to support high-potential startups tackling challenges with global impact. Our goal in visiting their newly opened lab was to provide our NATO DIANA cohort with access to cutting-edge resources and partnership opportunities in the maritime industry to catalyze breakthroughs that could address critical needs in maritime security, sustainability, and technology.
During our work at MITRE, OWL focused on several key initiatives aimed at advancing underwater communication and sensor technology. One of our primary objectives was to integrate and test a new type of acoustic modem from NATO DIANA partner company, Water Linked. These modems are essential for establishing reliable communication networks underwater. By evaluating the performance and capabilities of these modems in real-world conditions, we gained valuable insights that inform the development of our own technology.
In addition to testing acoustic modems, OWL integrated sensors into our systems, enhancing our ability to collect data in underwater environments. This integration process involved rigorous testing to ensure the sensors’ functionality and reliability under various conditions. Furthermore, we tested specialized enclosures to protect our equipment from the harsh underwater environment, ensuring durability and effectiveness in challenging conditions.
OWL’s work at MITRE represents a significant step forward in our efforts to advance maritime technology and underwater research. This will benefit the marine industry by enabling more efficient and reliable communication between underwater assets, such as autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs), sensors, and monitoring systems. Additionally, improved underwater sensing capabilities will enhance environmental monitoring, enabling better understanding and management of marine ecosystems. These advancements will not only support scientific research and exploration but also contribute to the safety, sustainability, and efficiency of various maritime activities, including offshore energy exploration, marine transportation, and disaster response.
Moving forward, OWL remains committed to collaborating with leading organizations like MITRE to make the world resilient through connectivity — on land, air, space and now water!
