PhD Research
My PhD research focused on finding a way of getting a high speed internet connection to ships, buoys, platforms and other users beyond the sight of land. Why is this important? In order for offshore renewable energy to be a viable option, constant inspections and maintenance must be performed. This usually involves sending a ship to launch a Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV) and inspect the underwater structure, at great expense. However, if the ROV could be controlled by a pilot onshore, significant savings could be made.
The method we're currently focusing on uses a phenomenon known as the evaporation duct to extend the range of microwave communication signals. The evaporation duct is formed by water evaporating off the sea surface, causing a layer of humid air a few metres thick. Above this the air is less humid, and the rapid change in humidity causes a change in refractive index known as the evaporation duct. While microwave signals typically travel in straight lines, when they enter the evaporation duct they can curve around the horizon, bringing high speed communications to previously isolated users.
One of the main challenges associated with this type of communications is the fact the evaporation duct varies massively with the weather. A lot of my research so far has been finding out how often the evaporation duct occurs in the Irish Sea, and how strong it is when it does occur.
Various side projects I worked on during my research include using Sigfox LPWAN technology to control offshore equipment remotely, building a positioner system to keep a parabolic dish antenna steady on a ship, and participating in an ROV survey.