Communication Systems

We develop advanced systems and technology to enable the next generation of communications networks. Our work explores how to make satellite communications more resilient, how to make longer and faster laser datalinks to space, and how to improve tactical radios for soldiers.

Advanced Lasercom Systems and Operations
Advanced RF Techniques and Systems
Advanced SATCOM Systems and Operations
Optical and Quantum Communications Technology
Tactical Networks

We design, prototype, analyze, and test laser communications systems.

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An illustration of data being sent across a laser from a small satellite to a ground station on Earth.

Communications system achieves fastest laser link from space yet

Nov 8

This rendering shows a novel piece of hardware, called a smart transceiver, that uses technology known as silicon photonics to dramatically accelerate one of the most memory-intensive steps of running a machine-learning model.

In the Media

Deep learning with light

Oct 21

MIT news

The 38-foot-wide radome protecting the Multi-Band Test Terminal — a large antenna on an MIT Lincoln Laboratory building rooftop — is shown illuminated at night.

Antenna enables advanced satellite communications testing

Aug 29

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Photo of researchers launching the weather balloons

communications

Balloon-Based Resilient Communications

High-altitude balloons used as beyond-line-of-sight relays would provide communications nodes if satellite communications could not offer coverage in contested environments.

The ASIC system on chip was fabricated using industry processes and best practices. This image shows the chip during the packaging process.

embedded computing

Advanced ASIC System on Chip for CLASS

A power-efficient application-specific integrated circuit system on chip that performs up to 2 trillion computations per second has potential for use in mobile communication systems.

The Laboratory's novel optical communication system was integrated on a robotic undersea vehicle.

optical systems

Undersea Optical Communications

A system that enables robust, long-distance communications between underwater vehicles exploits laser technology.

During a wildfire in southern California, emergency responders shared real-time information on the NICS interface, such as the size of the fire, unit locations, and the rate of the fire’s spread.

disaster relief

Next-Generation Incident Command System

Emergency agencies around the world are using NICS to coordinate rapid and organized response to disasters.

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The most exciting part of my research is seeing simulations and concepts come to fruition in hardware.

YaYa Brown

Electrical Engineer

Communication Systems

Tactical Networks

My favorite aspect of my work is seeing a project through to the prototype or operational stage — observing a physical system achieve its intended performance is incredible.

Kat Riesing

Systems Engineer

Communication Systems

Optical and Quantum Communications Technology

A portrait photograph of Kat Riesing outdoors in wooded environment.

As someone focused on the implementation side, I can make hardware platforms run and bits toggle all day long, but that work is most rewarding when I know it's in service of a technologically valuable mission.