{"id":11895,"date":"2026-09-06T02:01:55","date_gmt":"2026-09-06T02:01:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/haf.hi.is\/research\/"},"modified":"2026-09-06T02:02:19","modified_gmt":"2026-09-06T02:02:19","slug":"research","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/haf.hi.is\/is\/research\/","title":{"rendered":"Research"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n\n
\n\n
\n\n

Research Programme<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Six directions in underwater and aerial connectivity<\/span><\/h1>\n\n\n\n

HAF develops the physical-layer foundations for buoy-free communication across the water-air interface: massive acoustic arrays, magnetic induction links, cooperative robot swarms, wireless power delivery and programmable metasurfaces \u2014 unified into a single cross-layer architecture tested in Icelandic fjords.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n\n<\/div>\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

\n\n
\n\n
\n\n
\n\n
\n\n
\n\n
\n\n

01<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Acoustic Ultra-Massive MIMO<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Large-scale transducer arrays exploit spatial multiplexing across the acoustic channel to push underwater throughput far past narrowband sonar links.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Beamforming algorithms adapt in real time to multipath and Doppler spread caused by fjord thermoclines and tidal currents.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

\n\n
\n\n
\"Acoustic<\/figure>\n\n<\/div>\n\n<\/div>\n\n<\/div>\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n\n
\n\n
\n\n
\n\n
\"AUV<\/figure>\n\n<\/div>\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n\n
\n\n

02<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Magnetic MIMO<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Magnetic induction coils sidestep acoustic latency entirely, offering a low-delay control channel between AUVs at short to medium range.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Multi-coil arrays form directional links resilient to turbidity, bubbles and biofouling that would blind optical alternatives.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n\n<\/div>\n\n<\/div>\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

\n\n
\n\n
\n\n
\n\n

03<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Multi-Robot Cooperative MIMO<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Fleets of AUVs form virtual antenna arrays, combining individually weak signals into a coherent high-gain transmission.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Distributed synchronization protocols keep the swarm phase-aligned despite drift, currents and irregular spacing.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

\n\n
\n\n
\"Fleet<\/figure>\n\n<\/div>\n\n<\/div>\n\n<\/div>\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n\n
\n\n
\n\n
\n\n
\"Underwater<\/figure>\n\n<\/div>\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n\n
\n\n

04<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Underwater Power Delivery<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Inductive and acoustic energy transfer let AUVs recharge at seabed docking nodes without surfacing or physical connectors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Joint power-and-data waveforms allow a single link to sustain both telemetry and battery top-up simultaneously.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n\n<\/div>\n\n<\/div>\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

\n\n
\n\n
\n\n
\n\n

05<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Acoustic Metasurfaces<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Engineered subwavelength structures reshape and redirect acoustic wavefronts passively, extending range without added power.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Reconfigurable panels act as underwater reflectors, steering signals around seamounts and thermal layers on demand.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

\n\n
\n\n
\"Engineered<\/figure>\n\n<\/div>\n\n<\/div>\n\n<\/div>\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n\n
\n\n
\n\n
\n\n
\"UAV<\/figure>\n\n<\/div>\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n\n
\n\n

06<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Buoy-Free AUV-UAV Communication<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

A cross-medium link translates acoustic signals directly into radio at the sea surface, removing the need for anchored relay buoys.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

UAVs hover as mobile gateways, giving submerged sensors a moving, repositionable path to shore.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n\n<\/div>\n\n<\/div>\n\n<\/div>\n\n<\/div>\n\n<\/div>\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

\n\n
<\/span>\"Aerial
\n\n
\n\n

System Integration<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Every layer is built to talk<\/span> to every other layer.<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Acoustic arrays, magnetic links, cooperative swarms and aerial relays are not separate experiments \u2014 they share one cross-layer stack, tested together in open water rather than in isolation.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

\n\n
\n\n
\n\n

Underway<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Current projects & collaborations<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n