We integrate fundamental concepts from wave propagation, material science, signal processing, & electronics to build acoustic systems that solve global challenges in ecology, health, & the industry

About Our Work

The Metasonics lab specializes in acoustic sensors and systems for the Internet of Things. We use sound to wirelessly power and communicate with sensors in extreme environments, such as deep oceans, within the human body, and inside nuclear waste containers. Our group uses 3D printing to build advanced materials and technologies for generating, precisely manipulating, and harvesting ultrasonic waves. We build next-gen acoustic devices and systems, such as lenses, SONAR, and ultrasound imagers. These devices are used for a variety of applications, ranging from non-destructive testing to biomedical imaging.

Our Research

Through-Metal Power Transfer

Ultrasonic waves are the only practical solution to transmit power and data through metallic enclosures. Using ultrasonic waves, we can wirelessly power-up sensors in nuclear waste containers or outside submarines and retrieve their measurements. We use piezoelectric transducers to convert electrical energy to ultrasonic waves that can efficiently travel through metals then convert it back to an electrical signal on the other side. Our technology will soon enable ruggedized mobile devices that do not need any physical ports for charging and communication.

Ultrasonic Metamaterials

Our research explores the potential of 3D-printed metamaterials to revolutionize ultrasound technology. These specialized materials offer unprecedented control over ultrasonic waves, paving the way for next-gen ultrasound imaging and structural health monitoring solutions. To achieve this, we are designing and experimentally validating metamaterials for practical ultrasound frequencies in the MHz range. At these frequencies, the metamaterial features too small to be built using accessible 3D-printing technologies, such as FDM or SLA. We are developing innovative metamaterial designs and printing methodologies to overcome these limitations. We expect that our solutions will significantly reduce the cost of ultrasound imaging and enhance resolution, thereby enabling earlier disease detection in medical applications and more precise non-destructive testing in industrial settings.

Acoustic Backscatter for Ocean IoT

The ocean is biggest factor in our climate, yet it remains largely unexplored because it is hard to deploy sensors underwater and read their data efficiently. Wireless communications such as WiFi and 5G do not work underwater, and traditional acoustic communications that work underwater is power hungry. This project is developing acoustic backscatter, a communication technology that consumes 1 million time less power than existing solutions and enables battery-free sensors. Backscatter sensors can harvest sound waves to operate (e.g. from a nearby drone or ship) and transmit data back by reflecting some of these waves back to the source. We aim to deploy the technology at scale in oceans and rivers to collect critical ocean health data (e.g., temperature, salinity, pollution levels) that can help us tackle climate change.

Acoustics in Space

Sound can penetrate opaque objects in space and transmit critical information about their internal structure and physical properties. This project explores developing new acoustic sensing technologies for monitoring complex physical processes such as flow condensation in the absence of gravity. We are building acoustic systems that can listen to the sound generated by these processes to uncover their underlying mechanisms in the absence of gravity. We will deploy these systems to the international space station and analyze the captured acoustic signals to provide unique information about these processes that can help design next-gen thermofluidic devices, such as condensers in power stations and refrigeration systems.

Our Capabilities

Electro-Piezo-Acoustic Modeling

Our work is at the forefront of acoustic materials & system designs. We use theory to develop models & equations that guide our understanding of ultrasonic systems and help us identify bottlenecks in our implementations

High-Fidelity Multiphysics Simulations

We use numerical simulations such as FEM & raytracing to visualize acoustic wave propagation and characterize complex ultrasonic transducers & systems

Multi-Domain Acoustic Testing & Automation

In our lab, theory and experiments go hand in hand. We develop and visualize new concepts in the morning & build rigorous experiments to validate them in the afternoon.

Interdisciplinary Integration & System Design

Our goal is to develop technologies that solve real-world problems. We take our ideas from basic concepts to functional systems and prototypes by integrating solutions across domains

Our Facilities and Equipment

The Metasonics lab is equipped with advanced tools for acoustic, ultrasonic, power transmission, and underwater communication research. The lab features a 500-square-foot main research space and a 300-square-foot fabrication area. We are also a member of the UC Applied Acoustics Lab, home to a full anechoic chamber (24’ x 26’ x 22’), a 2,000-square-foot high-bay research space, high-performance computing clusters, and regional underwater testing sites.

Ultrasonic Testing and Characterization

Ultrasonic materials characterization setups
Network and Impedance analyzers (R&S ZNLE 3, Omicron Bode 100, Hioki IM3536)
High-power RF amplifiers
High-speed oscilloscopes and function generators

Underwater Acoustic Testing (under const.)

A 6’x4’x3’ acoustic tank with a 3D scanning gantry
Phased-array ultrasonic system
Hydrophones, immersion transducers, and pulser receivers.
Software-defined radios (USRP N210)

Sound and Vibration Measurments

Scanning laser vibrometer (Polytec PSV-500-HV)
High-speed cameras with digital image correlation software (Photron AX200)
A wide selection of PCB microphones, accelerometers
High-channel count signal analyzers, and data acquisition systems

Fabrication Tools:

Custom-built epoxy and high-pressure curing systems
A programmable curing oven
Bambu Lab X1E 3D printer
Electronics Fabrication Station

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