KAUST Professor Boon Ooi, Nobel laureate Shuji Nakamura, and colleagues are collaborating on laser-based solid state lighting (SSL) and visible light communications (VLC). The team is using gallium nitride (GaN) to develop high-performance semiconductor laser devices, leveraging nanofabrication techniques at KAUST. They demonstrated that their laser-based VLC system is over 20 times faster than LED-based Li-Fi systems. Why it matters: This research could enable faster, more energy-efficient data transmission using visible light, with potential applications in both terrestrial and underwater communication.
A KAUST student blog post discusses optical wireless communications (OWC) as a solution to radio frequency exhaustion. OWC uses optical frequencies to carry electrical signals, offering advantages like high data rates and immunity to electromagnetic interference. Free-space optical (FSO) communication, a type of OWC, is applicable for inter-building connections and has seen use cases such as broadcasting during the 2010 FIFA World Cup. Why it matters: OWC research and deployment in the region can support high-bandwidth applications and provide cost-effective connectivity solutions, especially in challenging environments or disaster scenarios.
KAUST researchers developed Aqua-Fi, a system for underwater wireless communication using lasers and off-the-shelf components. The system uses a Raspberry Pi as a modem to convert Wi-Fi signals to optical signals, enabling bi-directional communication. Using blue and green lasers, they achieved 2.11 megabits per second over 20 meters, compliant with IEEE 802.11 standards. Why it matters: This innovation could significantly improve underwater data transmission, benefiting applications such as environmental monitoring, underwater exploration, and communication with underwater devices.
Dr. Steevy Cordette from TII's Directed Energy Research Center has been appointed to the Board of Directors of the Light Communication Alliance (LCA). The LCA is a non-profit organization focused on promoting Light Communications technology and defining standards for education, communication, and interoperability. Dr. Cordette will focus on integrating light and emerging optic communication technologies, enhancing TII's global visibility in areas like LiFi and Free Space Optics. Why it matters: This appointment positions the UAE as a leader in innovative telecommunications solutions and strengthens TII's role in shaping global telecommunications standards.
AIDRC researchers co-authored an accepted IEEE Vehicular Technology Magazine article on time reversal for 6G wireless communications. The article presents experimental results on the spatiotemporal focusing capability of time reversal across carrier frequencies. It examines requirements for efficient time reversal operation and synergies with technologies like reconfigurable intelligent surfaces. Why it matters: The research explores advancements in 6G wireless communication, with potential implications for coverage extension, sensing, and localization capabilities in the region.
Researchers from KAUST, University of St. Andrews, and the Center for Unconventional Processes of Sciences have developed an uncrackable security system using optical chips. The system uses silicon chips with complex structures that are irreversibly changed to send information, achieving "perfect secrecy" through a one-time key. This method leverages classical physics and the second law of thermodynamics to ensure that keys are never stored, communicated, or recreated, making interception impossible. Why it matters: This breakthrough has the potential to revolutionize communications privacy globally, offering an unbreakable method for securing confidential data on public channels.
KAUST, in collaboration with KSU and KFUPM, is working on a project initiated by the Saudi Communications, Space & Technology Commission (CST) to expand mobile communication coverage in remote areas of the Kingdom. The study explores utilizing the sub-700 MHz ultrahigh frequency (UHF) band, potentially reassigning it from television broadcast to mobile telecommunication networks. This band's long wavelength radio waves can travel further and penetrate obstacles more easily, reducing network infrastructure costs. Why it matters: This initiative could bridge the digital divide in Saudi Arabia by providing affordable mobile connectivity to underserved communities.
The Autonomous Robotics Research Center (ARRC) is developing underwater communication systems, including a multimode modem prototype, and has filed three patents. One key technology is the Universal Underwater Software Defined Modem (UniSDM), which supports sound, magnetic induction, light, and radio waves. ARRC also developed a network management framework for automatic network slicing (ANS) of communication resources. Why it matters: These advancements are crucial for improving underwater exploration, industrial maintenance, and marine monitoring in the region, enabling more efficient and reliable communication for underwater robots.