Researchers from the University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, led by Qianqian Zhang, Long Wang, Ben Wu, and Jia Mi, have proposed a novel framework to enhance maritime communications, which could have significant implications for the energy sector, particularly offshore operations.
Maritime communication is increasingly important as the maritime economy expands, but current technologies struggle with signal coverage, availability, and robustness in harsh sea conditions. The researchers have developed a system that uses reconfigurable intelligent surfaces (RIS) mounted on offshore infrastructures, such as wind turbines, to improve coverage and reliability. This approach could be particularly beneficial for the energy industry, enabling better monitoring and control of offshore wind farms and other maritime energy infrastructure.
The system also includes a near-ocean-surface channel model that considers the impact of sea waves, ensuring that the communication system can adapt to the dynamic maritime environment. Additionally, a wave energy harvesting system is designed to self-power IoT sensors for data acquisition, processing, and transmission. This feature could reduce the need for battery replacements and maintenance, lowering operational costs and environmental impact.
To support real-time adaptation, the system continuously measures channel state information to optimize RIS reflection parameters and maximize multi-user communication rates. Simulation results show that the proposed system significantly improves IoT communication performance by over 20% under harsh sea conditions. This enhancement could lead to more efficient and reliable data transmission, crucial for the safe and effective operation of offshore energy installations.
The research was published in the IEEE Internet of Things Journal, a reputable source for advancements in IoT technology. The proposed framework could pave the way for more robust and efficient maritime communications, benefiting the energy sector by improving the management and operation of offshore energy infrastructure.
This article is based on research available at arXiv.