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Light Based Wifi

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Contributors: Hendrik Hagala (Research)

Invisible Light Based Interior Internet Connection

Problem

Wifi is emitting dangerous EMF radiation that is harmful for people's health who are using WiFi connected devices like smartphones and laptops or who are staying in WiFi zones. 

Solution

The idea is to develop an invisible light based indoor networking system where users can conveniently connect their smartphones and laptops to the Internet. 

Prize

  • Get credited as a Project Contributor to the Ocean Builders Project

  • Turn this into your own entrepreneurial business venture and we will be your first customers and help bring you media attention and customers

  • Get Entrepreneurial Business Coaching (Brian mentioned this???) to start this as a business

 

And here are some potential benefits:

 

  • Mass exposure with highly visible project

  • Build reputation

  • Recognized as an official collaborator/ and/or on Github

  • Get noticed

  • Product development experience

  • Work on projects you are passionate about

  • Get your project built and working in the real world

  • Participate in interesting work

  • Get grants (maybe partner with someone that can help with this or exposure to grant writers)

  • Change the world



Industry

Current technological level

 

Most well known brands in this field are Signify by Philips, Oledcomm, PureLiFi and Vlncomm. 

 

All these products have similar working principles where you need to install an access point to the ceiling and plug in a station to the smartphone or laptop via USB to create LiFi internet connection. See some stations on the pictures below:

 

 

Currently the technology is very expensive, for example, PureLiFi offers a Li Fi Network Pack for 4 devices at the cost of £5000 excluding delivery and duties.

 

There are also built in LiFi solutions for smartphones and computers. For example PureLiFi can work with manufacturers to integrate a Gigabit Light Antenna™ into their next lighting product, or connected device. See picture below:

 

 

Companies are currently working towards miniaturisation of LiFi technology. Ultimately the end goal is to have LiFi in every mobile device. This means that the technology will be affordable for integration into handsets, tablets and laptops.

 

Ultimately the end consumer will see minimal or no cost associated with LiFi as the goal is to have LiFi embedded in every wireless mobile device.

 

 

Potential collaborators

 

This company might be worth looking into:
https://youtu.be/ALaS2xgeMes
https://www.greyb.com/lifi-vs-wifi/

Signify by Philips, Oledcomm, PureLiFi and Vlncomm.

 

Oledcomm is interested in partnering with Ocean Builders. Their new version of the station is in development, which will be with the measurement of 2.5 x 5 cm. 

 

Contact person:

Cyril Brand

Project Manager

cyril.brand@oledcomm.net

 

Information

Repository

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License Requirement

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Project Areas

  • Hardware design

  • Software

Project requirements
Stages and deadlines

Project Start

date

Team Formed

date

Market Research Summary (Report)

date

Project Plan Complete

date

Preliminary Product Design Complete

date

Prototype Development Complete

date

Prototype Evaluation Complete

date

Product Presentation

date

Project Completion

date

Project plan should cover the following:

  • stages / milestones of a project (not all stages are brought out in a table above)

  • activities or tasks in each phase

  • task start and end dates

  • interdependencies between tasks

 

Also:

  • skills needed

  • responsibilities of each team member (identify as many as you can).

 

Preliminary product design should cover the following:

  • production components, raw material

  • system block diagram (This diagram specifies each electronic function and how all of the functional components interconnect).

  • preliminary Bill of Materials (BOM)

  • production cost estimation

  • performance 

  • features 

  • development feasibility 

  • manufacturability

Product requirements

 

Points

Required

  
   

General
   

Is it using light to create indoor networking?
   

Can the room be dark to have an internet connection?
   

Does it support handover, allowing seamless switching between lights?
   

Can multiple users share each access point, supported

through multiple access.
   

Can geofencing and location services be enabled for a single

light, or a group of lights?
   

Is the max allowed distance 12 m or more between the access point and the station?
   

Does it have full duplex communications with 43 Mbps link rate?
   

Does it have 100 MB/s download and 40 MB/s upload speed
   

Is the cost of production for the station $<text> or less?
   

Is the cost of production for the access point $<text> or less?
     
   

The station
   

Shape: free choice but it could be like a pen drive or a phone case
   

Size: if it's in a shape of a pen drive then max 20 (L) x 50 (W) x 7 (H) mm
   

Is the device optical part located in the top part of the phone?
   

Can it fit every smartphone?
   

Can the station have connection when the user is making a call by placing the phone against the ear?
   

Does the phone have an internet connection in any position?
   

Can you use USB-C while the station is connected?
   

Can you use a camera while using the internet?
   

Is the field of view 60 degrees or more? Probably not enough
     
   

The access point
   

Is it compatible with Windows 10, Linux and Mac OS?
   

Does it support multiple users?
   

Is it plug and play?
   

If it's LED light based then does it support a wide range of LED light

fixtures?
   

Is it flexible to fit your backhaul and supports both Power Line and Power

over Ethernet options?
   

Can one access point cover 28 m2 or more?
Project video link:

https://www.dropbox.com/s/p15byw8iahb906d/LightBasedWifi.mp4?dl=0 

 

This project is being developed as an open-source project with the following licensing:
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