You arrive at a sports stadium or a crowded shopping centre and discover there’s ‘free WiFi’. Naturally you download it but it’s usually either awfully slow or just plain useless.
Well researchers at MIT have developed a new WiFi system that’s three times faster than current WiFi and can eliminate the problems you would normally get with a crowded space.
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It’s called MegaMIMO 2.0 and it can transfer data at three times the speed of a normal WiFi network, it also has twice the range too.
It’s a phenomenon that occurs when hundreds of devices are all trying to access multiple routers all on the same frequency. The results are a confusing mess of signals that are constantly clashing with each other.
The easiest way to experience spectrum crunch is to simply head to a national stadium and try and use your phone. It’s virtually impossible.
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“In today’s wireless world, you can’t solve spectrum crunch by throwing more transmitters at the problem, because they will all still be interfering with one another,” says Ezzeldin Hamed, a PhD student who is lead author on a new paper on the topic.
“The answer is to have all those access points work with each other simultaneously to efficiently use the available spectrum.”
MegaMIMO 2.0
What MegaMIMO 2.0 does is create an interwoven network that actually talks to each other.
Each transmitter is then able to work together and make sure that they’re sending information that isn’t clashing to each device.
By sychronising all the transmitters together you create a coherent network that can transmit data without interfering with both itself and other devices.
“This work offers a completely new way to deliver WiFi in campuses and enterprises,” says Sachin Kattian associate professor of electrical engineering and computer science at Stanford University.
“Whereas current solutions often have slow, spotty performance, this technology has the potential to deliver high-capacity connectivity to each and every user.”
These Are The Robots And Drones That Will Change Our Lives:
1
Robots that can deliver other robots:
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Amazon/AP
Amazon Prime Air is a drone delivery service which the company is currently testing. The company aims to deliver products within just 30 minutes of the customer pressing the 'order' button. (AP Photo/Amazon)
2
Robots that could soon be saving lives:
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MARK RALSTON via Getty Images
The robot 'CHIMP' developed by Team Tartan Rescue from the US prepares to complete a task during the finals of the DARPA Robotics Challenge. It is hoped that these robots will eventually replace emergency services workers during events like the Fukushima nuclear disaster. (MARK RALSTON/AFP/Getty Images)
3
Robots that can carry your stuff:
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MARK RALSTON via Getty Images
A robotic cheetah runs during a demonstration at the finals of the DARPA Robotics Challenge. DARPA's four-legged robots have been designed to carry supplies and ammunition for the US Army. Capable of travelling over tough terrain the hope is that these will eventually replace the need for trucks or small vehicles. (MARK RALSTON/AFP/Getty Images)
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4
Robots that can kill:
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AFP via Getty Images
A sentry robot freezes a hypothetical intruder by pointing its machine gun during its test in Cheonan. South Korea unveiled a high-tech, machine gun-toting sentry robot that could support its troops in detecting and killing intruders along the heavily fortified border with North Korea. The weapons-grade robot can detect, raise the alarm and provide suppressive fire. (KIM DONG-JOO/AFP/Getty Images)
5
Robots that can race each other:
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YOSHIKAZU TSUNO via Getty Images
Japan's motorcycle maker Yamaha Motor introduces the prototype model of a motorcycle riding robot 'Motobot' during a press preview at the Tokyo Motor Show in Tokyo on 28, 2015.(YOSHIKAZU TSUNO/AFP/Getty Images)
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Robots that are toys:
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ASSOCIATED PRESS
The Sphero BB-8 remote controlled droid is on display at CES Unveiled, a media preview event for CES International, Monday, Jan. 4, 2016, in Las Vegas. The robot is controlled by an app for a mobile device. (AP Photo/John Locher)
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7
Robots that will do your weekly shop:
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A new delivery drone company plans to revolutionise the way we do our shopping by replacing your weekly trip to Sainsbury's with a tiny delivery robot which will bring your fruit and veg straight to your door.(Starship Technologies)