MIT team transmits data through Arctic ice using magnetic-field modem prototype
Researchers from MIT Lincoln Laboratory drilled a 2-by-3-foot hole through 3.6 feet of Arctic sea ice and lowered a robot that sent data at about 1.2 KB/s via a magnetic-inductive link.
In the 2026 iteration of Operation Ice Camp, MIT Lincoln Laboratory scientists partnered with Norwegian defense firm Havguard to evaluate a magnetic-field modem for Arctic applications. They drilled a 2-by-3-foot opening through 3.6 feet of sea ice near Utqiaġvik, Alaska, and deployed a remotely operated vehicle carrying the underwater transmitter and a suite of navigation instruments. The system relayed information to a surface receiver at about 1.2 KB per second, proving that magneto-inductive links can bypass the limitations of radio waves in seawater.
The experiment builds on earlier sensor deployments from 2024 and 2026 that captured marine-mammal sounds and ice-crack vibrations. Researchers hope future versions will enable long-term, low-maintenance sensor networks that transmit data via drones or satellites, reducing the need for risky human presence on unstable ice. Ongoing work includes refining the modem housing and exploring air-droppable sensor designs for the next Operation Ice Camp in 2028.
Why it matters
The technology could allow continuous Arctic monitoring while keeping researchers safe from extreme ice conditions.
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