Doctoral Thesis: Wireless Systems for a Sustainable Future: From Battery-Free Subsea IoT to THz-Based Agriculture Monitoring

Friday, March 14
3:00 pm - 4:30 pm

E15-341

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Presenter: Sayed Saad Afzal
Presenter’s Affiliation : MIT Media Lab
Thesis Supervisor(s): Fadel Adib

Details

  • Date: Friday, March 14
  • Time: 3:00 pm - 4:30 pm
  • Category:
  • Location: E15-341
Additional Location Details:

Zoom link: https://mit.zoom.us/j/96400224669

Abstract: In this talk, I will describe how wireless sensing can drive significant advancements in climate and sustainability. Specifically, I will show how we can leverage diverse signals—acoustics, ultrasound, THz, and optics— in unconventional ways to unlock new capabilities in underwater climate monitoring, food safety, and disaster response.

I will focus on two novel technologies developed as part of my PhD thesis. The first , is a new technology that enables long-term, ultra-low power ocean sensor networks for use in climate modeling, marine monitoring, and sustainable aquaculture. Unlike existing IoT technologies — like Bluetooth, WiFi, and GPS — which cannot work underwater, I designed and implemented an ultra-low power subsea backscatter communication system, enabling battery-free underwater imaging and localization. Second, I will describe a new technology that can support sustainability in agriculture through real-time food quality assessment that reduces food waste. In contrast to existing food quality technologies that require direct contact with produce, I introduce a new wireless system for accurate, non-invasive sensing using sub-THz signals. Together, these technologies unlock new IoT applications in climate modeling, aquaculture, robotics, and agriculture.

Bio: Sayed Saad Afzal is a Ph.D. candidate at MIT’s EECS Department. His research mainly focuses on wireless sensing and building ultra-low power subsea wireless backscatter technologies for climate, environment, and robotics. His work on ocean IoT and food security has been selected for “Nature Electronics Research Highlights”, it was also selected for the best paper award in MobiCom’23, and has earned recognition from the US National Academies. His other awards include the Ernst A. Guillemin Best Masters Thesis Award and the MathWorks Engineering Fellowship for 2024.

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