Track 1: SonicNet
SonicNet: Acoustic Energy Networks for Wireless Power and Data
Faculty Champions
Shima Shahab (ME) and Pinar Acar (ME)
Team
Nicole Akers, Reza Barkhi, Ted Barron, Raffaella De Vita, Giti Khodaparast, Suyi Li, Ali Mehrizi-Sani, Afroze Mohammed
Project Goal
Modern society is advancing toward wireless technologies, primarily electromagnetic, that support autonomous systems and continuous sensing across infrastructures, manufacturing, national security, and healthcare. Many of these systems operate in environments such as water, dense structures, and biological tissue, where conventional wireless methods struggle to deliver reliable power and data. SonicNet establishes a convergent center to develop Acoustic Energy Networks (AENs), integrating acoustics, advanced materials, power systems, and AI. By introducing sound as a complementary modality, SonicNet enables resilient, long-lasting autonomous systems in previously inaccessible environments and redefines wireless infrastructure for intelligent, adaptive, and self-sustaining systems across critical national domains.