Federal Grant Award Summary

The University of Alabama received a $357,859 Project Grant from the National Science Foundation's Division of Information and Intelligent Systems under the Computer and Information Science and Engineering program (CFDA 47.070), awarded on July 1, 2026, with completion targeted for June 30, 2031. This CAREER award supports foundational research into Underwater Acoustic Reconfigurable Intelligent Surfaces (UA-RIS), a novel technology designed to enhance underwater communication and sensing capabilities. The project delivers three integrated research thrusts: (1) design and modeling of innovative UA-RIS architectures through electromechanical and acoustic methods, including reflector analysis, propagation modeling, and communication-capacity evaluation; (2) development of a localization framework incorporating passive localization methods, hardware timing jitter analysis, and accuracy bounds; and (3) extension of network protocols and integration methodologies for practical underwater systems deployment.

Beyond core research activities, the award supports significant educational and outreach components intended to advance underwater communication technology development and workforce training. Deliverables include open-source tools and datasets for the research community, student training and education initiatives, and public engagement activities promoting ocean technology and engineering interest. These outputs are designed to establish the scientific foundation necessary for smart underwater networks applicable to ocean research, environmental monitoring, offshore infrastructure inspection, and maritime security operations.