Underwater Wireless Acoustic Power Transfer (UWAPT) offers a transformative alternative to conventional energy delivery methods for submerged autonomous systems, particularly where electromagnetic transmission is impractical. At Virginia Tech, our lab has pioneered foundational research in UWAPT, developing efficient transducer designs and experimental frameworks to achieve reliable wireless power delivery over extended distances. Building on this body of work, we are now exploring the integration of acoustic holography to precisely shape and steer ultrasonic energy fields, enabling spatially targeted and scalable energy networks. Additionally, we introduce the concept of Real-time Electrical and Acoustic Coordination Technology (REACT)—a novel framework that combines environmental sensing, signal processing, and adaptive control to dynamically adjust acoustic energy delivery in response to changing underwater conditions. While REACT is in early development, its integration with holographic beamforming represents a promising new direction in intelligent, self-optimizing UWAPT systems. This presentation will provide an overview of our experimental progress, system design philosophy, and the future potential of UWAPT technologies in enabling resilient, autonomous, and energy-aware Internet of Underwater Things (IoUT) networks.
Shima Shahab (Wed,) studied this question.