Pål Orten

• Rauniyar, Saurab; Orten, Pål & Petersen, Stig (2025). Last-Mile Maritime Communications Using Intelligent Reflecting Surfaces Under Sea Wave Fluctuations and Doppler Effects. IEEE Access. 13. doi: 10.1109/access.2025.3648543. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Near-shore communication plays a crucial role in maritime operations, serving as a last-mile link between ships and shore-based infrastructures. However, this environment poses several challenges. High vessel density, coastal obstructions, large ships, and mountainous terrain often block the communication paths. These factors significantly degrade the signal quality and reliability. In addition, sea-surface reflections, vessel motion, and Doppler effects create a complex propagation environment. This leads to composite fading channels that further complicate reliable communication. If left unaddressed, these challenges can compromise the safety and efficiency of maritime operations. To address these issues, we propose the use of Intelligent Reflecting Surfaces (IRS) to enhance last-mile maritime communication. The IRS can dynamically manipulate electromagnetic waves to optimize signal propagation. By intelligently tuning the phase shifts of the IRS elements, the system can strengthen signals, extend coverage, and reduce the effects of composite fading and Doppler shifts. Our results show that the proposed IRS-aided system outperforms conventional relay-based systems by up to 6 bps/Hz. Implementing IRS in near-shore communication networks thus promises more resilient, efficient, and reliable maritime communication.

• Rauniyar, Saurab; Orten, Pål & Petersen, Stig (2025). Combating coastal shadowing for ship-to-shore communication using STAR-RIS aided NOMA. International Telecommunication Networks and Applications Conference (ITNAC). ISSN 2474-1531. 2025. doi: 10.1109/ITNAC66378.2025.11302665. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  With the rapid growth of maritime activity, maintaining reliable ship-to-shore connectivity faces growing challenges from shadowing caused by passing tall vessels, offshore structures, and other maritime obstructions. An analysis of data for one month from the Norwegian Coastal Administration Automatic Identification System (AIS) shows that shadowing occurs in more than 60% of transmissions in Norwegian coastal waters. These frequent Non-Line-of-Sight (NLoS) conditions cause severe signal attenuation and undermine communication reliability. To address this, we investigate the use of Simultaneously Transmitting and Reflecting Reconfigurable Intelligent Surfaces aided Non-Orthogonal Multiple Access (STAR-RISNOMA) to enhance both coverage in 360° NLoS regions and system capacity. By simultaneously transmitting and reflecting incident signals, STAR-RIS can effectively reduce signal blockage and combat fading, while the integration of NOMA further enhances spectral efficiency. Simulation results show that STARRIS aided NOMA consistently delivers gains over conventional OMA schemes, improving near-user capacity by up to 5bps/Hz in shadowed maritime scenarios. These results highlight STAR-RIS-NOMA as a scalable and practical solution for high-capacity, shadowing-resilient ship-to-shore communications.

• Rauniyar, Saurab; Bhattacharya, Sagnik; Orten, Pål; Petersen, Stig & Darshi, Sam (2025). Capacity Enhancement of Near-Shore Communication Using Rate Splitting Multiple Access. In Arsan, Taner & Dorogan, Andrei (Ed.), 2025 IEEE International Black Sea Conference on Communications and Networking (BlackSeaCom), 23-26 June 2025, Chisinau, Moldova. IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers). ISSN 9798331537197. p. 1–6. doi: 10.1109/BlackSeaCom65655.2025.11193931. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  With the increasing importance of maritime activities, the demand for high-capacity, high-data-rate, and reliable coastal communication systems has increased dramatically. Near-shore environments that support offshore operations, such as wind and oil platforms, fisheries, and smart ports, require robust communication solutions to handle growing data demands. However, maritime environments present unique challenges, including multipath fading, shadowing, and interference caused by vessel movements and unpredictable sea conditions. To overcome these obstacles, this paper investigates the use of Rate-Splitting Multiple Access (RSMA) to enhance the capacity and data rate of near-shore communication networks. RSMA introduces a flexible approach to interference management by splitting user messages into common and private streams, enabling more efficient handling of interference and improving overall network performance. Our simulation results reveal that the RSMA significantly outperforms Non-Orthogonal Multiple Access (NOMA), achieving up to 9 bps/Hz higher sum-rate performance and offering superior adaptability to dynamic channel variations in a maritime environment. These findings highlight RSMA’s potential as an effective solution for the next generation of near-shore maritime communication systems.

• Rauniyar, Saurab; Orten, Pål & Petersen, Stig (2025). Enhancing Near-Shore Connectivity With IRS Assisted Uplink User Pairing. In Arsan, Taner & Dorogan, Andrei (Ed.), 2025 IEEE International Black Sea Conference on Communications and Networking (BlackSeaCom), 23-26 June 2025, Chisinau, Moldova. IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers). ISSN 9798331537197. doi: 10.1109/blackseacom65655.2025.11193913. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  The Blue Economy is undergoing a transformative shift driven by advancements in green shipping, automation, and digitalization. As maritime operations become increasingly complex, the demand for high-capacity, low-latency, and reliable communication has intensified. To address these challenges, we investigate user pairing with Intelligent Reflecting Surface (IRS)-assisted Non-Orthogonal Multiple Access (NOMA) systems in maritime composite fading channels. IRS enhances signal quality by intelligently optimizing the propagation environment. A key limitation in conventional NOMA user pairing is that unpaired users are often assigned to Orthogonal Multiple Access (OMA), reducing overall spectral efficiency. To overcome this, we study and investigate an efficient Virtual Pairing (VP) algorithm, which enables a strong near-user to be virtually paired with multiple far-users, ensuring efficient resource utilization and eliminating the inefficiencies associated with conventional NOMA and OMA pairing schemes. Additionally, we analyze the impact of wave fluctuations on maritime channels to evaluate system robustness in dynamic environments. Matlab simulations demonstrate that the proposed algorithm outperforms conventional NOMA and OMA pairing schemes by 6 bps/Hz with 40 IRS elements. These findings highlight the potential of IRS-assisted uplink NOMA virtual pairing as a scalable, high-performance solution for next-generation maritime communication networks.

• Bose, Pritam; Rafiq, Gulzaib & Orten, Pål (2025). Maritime communications – A review of potential wireless communication technologies. Ocean Engineering. ISSN 0029-8018. 341(2). doi: 10.1016/j.oceaneng.2025.122527. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  The maritime industry is a cornerstone of global trade, with sea transport handling the majority of international cargo movement. As global demand for goods and services continues to grow, the need for more efficient, sustainable, and technologically advanced maritime operations becomes increasingly critical. Central to this advancement is the role of maritime communications, which are vital for ship navigation, control, and monitoring. The integration of advanced wireless communication technologies is essential to enhance operational efficiency, safety, and the transition toward autonomous maritime systems. However, adopting these technologies in maritime environments presents significant challenges. Applications within the sector are diverse, each with unique communication requirements, and are subject to varying regulations across different regions. Additionally, the push for autonomous operations places heightened demands on the reliability and availability of communication systems. These complexities underscore the urgent need for continued research and innovation. This article provides a comprehensive review of current and emerging wireless communication technologies utilized in maritime contexts, including terrestrial, aerial, and satellite systems. It discusses their advantages and limitations, examines their relevance to maritime applications, and highlights persistent challenges. Finally, the article outlines future research directions critical for advancing communication infrastructure in the maritime industry.

• Petersen, Stig; Myhre, Bård & Orten, Pål (2025). Considerations on data capacity in 5G networks for MASS vessel communication. Journal of Physics: Conference Series (JPCS). ISSN 1742-6588. 3123. doi: 10.1088/1742-6596/3123/1/012013. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  In parallel to the on-going development of MASS in the maritime domain, mobile communication infrastructure is in the process of being extended with 5G, the first generation of mobile networks to specifically address applications and domains beyond the traditional voice and broadband for consumers and enterprises. 5G introduces new concepts such as enhanced QoS mechanisms, network slicing for application segregation and QoS management, as well as a new radio interface that enables both increased data rates and ultra-reliable low latency communication. As these new capabilities are being deployed in the public mobile infrastructure, they make 5G a promising technology for MASS vessel communication in coastal-near waters and inland waterways. However, even though 5G can deliver high-capacity networks capable of addressing a wide range of use cases across many verticals, our analyses indicate that public 5G networks lack the required uplink capacity necessary to fulfill the requirements of MASS remote control operations. Public 5G networks are by design, configuration, and specification, highly downlink-centric, and while the technology itself is fully capable of delivering high capacity, low latency communication, the current state of implementation in public network infrastructure is seemingly not adequate for applications demanding high uplink capacity when operating outside the traditional network coverage areas.

• Rafiq, Gulzaib; Bose, Pritam & Orten, Pål (2025). 5G Cellular Communication for Maritime Applications. IEEE Access. 13(2025), p. 109451–109472. doi: 10.1109/ACCESS.2025.3581591. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Recent technological advancements in mobile cellular communication have brought to light a variety of new application scenarios in the field of maritime communication that were not possible with earlier generations of cellular communication. Communication technologies in the maritime domain have diverse application scenarios with varying communication requirements. Typically, these requirements are far different and much more stringent than those commonly set for the use cases of communication technologies ashore. To date, maritime communication has mostly utilized wired connectivity for onboard critical communication, while satellite communication is utilized typically for remote connectivity to shore. However, with the advent of 5G cellular communication with the provision for adapting service quality according to different applications, several existing communication requirements can better be addressed as well as a whole set of new applications can be developed. This article presents an illustrative review of 5G cellular technology and discusses potential use cases of 5G in the maritime domain, thus paving the way towards the uptake of 5G technology for maritime applications. First, we provide a short introduction to 5G cellular technology and its key features that are relevant to maritime applications. Thereafter, we present some of the key application areas of 5G cellular technology in the maritime sector, highlighting potential application topologies. This article also highlights the key novelties in 5G that are believed to be of significance to maritime and offshore applications in the near future.

• Rauniyar, Saurab; Orten, Pål & Petersen, Stig (2024). Enhanced Onboard Ship Communication Using Reconfigurable Intelligent Surface. In Debbah, Merouane & Muhaidat, Sami (Ed.), 2024 IEEE Middle East Conference on Communications and Networking (MECOM). IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers). ISSN 9798350376715. doi: 10.1109/MECOM61498.2024.10881275. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  The advent of fifth-generation (5G) and beyond communication technologies holds significant promise for the maritime industry. As ships increasingly adopt wireless configurations with sensors and actuators, the demand for continuous data to support decision-making grows. Autonomous ships, in particular, rely on real-time data for both onboard and shore control center operations. However, the metallic structures, machinery, and containers on ships can obstruct signal paths, especially below the main deck, impeding comprehensive intraship communications. To address this challenge, we propose utilizing Reconfigurable Intelligent Surface (RIS) to enhance onboard ship communication. RIS mitigates signal blockages and extends coverage areas. In our study, we examine scenarios where signals are blocked between the transmitter and receiver. By strategically installing RIS on the side walls and ceilings of ships, we can control input wavefronts (phase, amplitude, and polarization) without the need for complex encoding, decoding, and signal processing operations typically required by relays. We evaluate the feasibility of implementing RIS in the maritime domain, using multiple RIS units and varying Rician K factor to assess the impact of line-of-sight compared to traditional relaying techniques. Our findings demonstrate that two RIS units with 50 elements each outperform conventional relaying systems. Additionally, we discuss the number of RIS units required to cover entire ships based on previous findings. This enhanced communication model has the potential to improve onboard decision-making and automation in next-generation shipping networks.

• Rauniyar, Saurab; Orten, Pål; Petersen, Stig & Noll, Josef (2024). WindNet: A Mobile Base Station Infrastructure For Maritime Industry. In Bruno, Sergio (Eds.), 2024 IEEE International Humanitarian Technologies Conference (IHTC) Proceedings. IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers). ISSN 9798350354645. doi: 10.1109/IHTC61819.2024.10855097. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  The maritime industry, encompassing sectors such as wind energy, oil rigs, fishing, global logistics, and cruise tourism, is one of the oldest and fastest-growing. However, it faces significant challenges in establishing communication infrastructure, which is crucial for continuous monitoring, safe operations, and data-driven decision-making. Existing communication systems are inadequate and struggle to support real-time data transfer, which is vital for operational efficiency and safety. To address this gap, we propose WindNet, a novel and cost-effective solution that integrates mobile base stations (MBS) with offshore wind turbines, drones, and floating buoys. WindNet aims to provide reliable connectivity across vast oceanic regions by leveraging advanced next-generation network technology. In this paper, we employ a maritime propagation model to evaluate the area covered by the base stations (BS). Our analysis provides key insights into the range, number of BS, and power needed to build a reliable WindNet mobile network along high-density shipping routes. Furthermore, a comprehensive risk analysis highlights WindNet’s potential to enhance maritime connectivity, operational efficiency, and environmental sustainability. By deploying WindNet and tethered drones with floating buoys BS, we aim to create a dynamic mesh network across vast maritime areas, supporting various sectors and driving further advancements in the maritime industry.

• Rauniyar, Saurab; Orten, Pål & Petersen, Stig (2024). Improving Last-Mile Maritime Communication Using Intelligent Reflecting Surfaces. In Agrawal, Himanshu & Gregory, Mark (Ed.), 2024 34th International Telecommunication Networks and Applications Conference (ITNAC). IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers). ISSN 9798350379112. doi: 10.1109/ITNAC62915.2024.10815582. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Near-shore ship communication is vital to maritime operations, serving as the last-mile communication link between vessels and shore-based infrastructure. Despite its importance, this environment poses pressing challenges. The high density of ships, towering vessels, shore-based buildings, and natural obstacles like mountains obstruct communication paths, leading to degraded signal quality and reliability. Moreover, sea surface reflections and other obstructions create a complex propagation environment, often resulting in composite fading channels. These channels are modeled as a mixture of Nakagami-m multipath fading and log-normal shadowing, capturing both small-scale and large-scale fading effects. If these challenges are not adequately addressed, they can severely compromise the safety and efficiency of maritime operations. To address these issues, we propose to use Intelligent Reflecting Surfaces (IRS) to enhance last-mile communications in the maritime domain. IRS can dynamically manipulate electromagnetic waves to optimize signal propagation and improve communication performance. By smartly adjusting the phase shifts of IRS elements, our approach aims to enhance signal strength, extend coverage, and mitigate both composite fading effects. Our results demonstrate that the IRS-aided system can effectively outperform the traditional relaying systems by 6bps/Hz. Implementing IRS in near-shore communication networks further enhances maritime operations, providing more resilient and efficient communication channels.

• Rauniyar, Saurab; Orten, Pål & Petersen, Stig (2023). Mobile Connectivity Beyond the Coast-Line: A Case Study for Next Generation Shipping. In Letaief, Khaled B. & Guo, Song (Ed.), Proceedings of the 2023 IEEE 98th Vehicular Technology Conference (VTC2023-Fall). IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers). ISSN 9798350329285. doi: 10.1109/VTC2023-Fall60731.2023.10333388. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  The maritime sector is an integral part of the growing blue economy, and accessible and affordable communication is a current goal. However, offshore areas lack adequate wireless connectivity. While Satellite and Very High Frequency (VHF) communication can be used, they come with limitations in cost and latency that hinder autonomous ship operations. In contrast, mobile networks can extend land-based communication over water, support Internet of Things (IoT) use cases, and enable seamless autonomous ship operations promising significant benefits for the maritime sector. However, the primary challenge lies in establishing reliable connectivity in coastal regions. Therefore, this paper explores the feasibility of using 5G-enabled drones and floating mobile base stations (FMBS) to establish mobile connectivity in coastal areas. Specifically, we examine the use of 5G FR-1 frequency (700MHz), which offers broader coverage, lower power consumption, and better support for IoT and fast-moving users (e.g., on ships and cruises). We present a case study to provide internet service along a predetermined route, i.e., from Kristiansand to Amsterdam. We also assess the appropriate maritime propagation model to evaluate the performance of the proposed solution and its feasibility for providing reliable and efficient connectivity. Our calculations provide insight into the number of drones needed to establish a mobile network in that particular route. Our study demonstrates the potential of using 5G-enabled drones and FMBS to improve mobile communication in the maritime sector.

• Rudander, Jacob Hiden; Husøy, Thor; Walree, Paul van & Orten, Pål (2023). Experimental Evaluation of a Real-Time FPGA Platform for Multichannel Coherent Acoustic Communication. IEEE Journal of Oceanic Engineering. ISSN 0364-9059. 48(3), p. 963–972. doi: 10.1109/JOE.2023.3245676. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  This article describes a field-programmable gate array (FPGA) based multihydrophone receiver, and evaluates its real-time performance in various shallow-water channels. The receiver, built around an integer precision multichannel linear equalizer, uses the Least Mean Squares Algorithm for filter tap updates. Combined with a 64-hydrophone line array in the very high-frequency band, the receiver achieves information data rates up to 465 kb/s over 100 m, and rates up to 155 kb/s over 1000 m.

• Rudander, Jacob Hiden; Husøy, Thor; Orten, Pål & Walree, Paul van (2021). Experimental evaluation of an FPGA based Real-Time Doppler estimator. In IEEE, . (Eds.), 2021 Fifth Underwater Communications and Networking Conference (UComms) August 31 - September 2 2021, Online. IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers). ISSN 9781728193151. p. 1–5. doi: 10.1109/UComms50339.2021.9598038. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  The performance of a coherent receiver depends on accurate Doppler estimation. This paper presents a Doppler estimator intended for single-carrier data streaming. It is based on a coarse estimate found via a small bank of shifted replicas, followed by a correction step. The cross-ambiguity function phase difference between two binary pseudo-noise training sequences, embedded in the start of the frame, is used to find the correction factor. The Doppler estimator was implemented in an FPGA and evaluated in three horizontal very high frequency (250 kHz) shallow water channels. The results show satisfactory real-time performance in the range of ±2 m/s.

• Petersen, Stig; Orten, Pål & Myhre, Bård (2020). Potential benefits of 5G communication for autonomous ships. IOP Conference Series: Materials Science and Engineering. ISSN 1757-8981. 929(012009). doi: 10.1088/1757-899X/929/1/012009. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  5G, the next generation of mobile networks, aims to deliver wireless connectivity for new applications beyond traditional connectivity and mobile broadband for the smartphone market. For the maritime industry, 5G has the potential to address a wide range of usage scenarios within ship-to-ship, ship-to-shore, and onboard communication. In this paper, we give an introduction to mobile network technologies and systems in general, as well as an overview of technical capabilities and novelties introduced by the forthcoming 5G specifications relevant for maritime operations. Furthermore, perspectives related to applications and opportunities enabled by 5G networks are discussed, along with the potential benefits for unmanned and autonomous ships.

• Rudander, Jacob; Husøy, Thor; Walree, Paul van & Orten, Pål (2020). Coherent high-speed acoustic communication inside a commercial atlantic salmon pen. Computers and Electronics in Agriculture. ISSN 0168-1699. doi: 10.1016/j.compag.2020.105540. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Fish telemetry is a potential method to monitor the well-being of farmed fish, where a reference group of fish are equipped with sensors tags that oversee their health and wirelessly transmit the data. Many fish must be tagged to get statistically reliable information. In this paper, very-high-frequency (250 kHz) acoustic channels are characterized using data recorded in an Atlantic salmon pen containing 180 000 fish. The results reveal vertical pen channels characterized by a direct path and a delayed tail of fluctuating multipath arrivals with an angular spread and a coherence time of order 14 ms. It is demonstrated that multichannel equalization applied to a 64-element hydrophone array enables high-speed (78 kbps) coherent communication in short bursts. We discuss the possibilities of using high-speed acoustic communication for fish telemetry and show that it has the potential of serving hundreds of distributed unsynchronized fish tags.

• Rudander, Jacob Hiden; Orten, Pål; Walree, Paul van & Husøy, Thor (2018). Experimental Evaluation of Uplink Underwater Acoustic Communications in Very High Frequency Massive MIMO System. In Alves, Joao Nuno (Eds.), 2018 Fourth Underwater Communications and Networking Conference (UComms). IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers). ISSN 9781538664421. doi: 10.1109/UComms.2018.8493202. Full text in Research Archive
• Rudander, Jacob Hiden; Walree, Paul van; Husøy, Thor & Orten, Pål (2018). Very-High-Frequency Single-Input–Multiple-Output Acoustic Communication in Shallow Water. IEEE Journal of Oceanic Engineering. ISSN 0364-9059. doi: 10.1109/JOE.2018.2855298. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Very-high-frequency (VHF) underwater acoustic communication is a relatively unexplored terrain, but its importance is expected to increase with the growing demands for larger bandwidths and higher data rates. Knowledge of VHF propagation channels is a prerequisite to achieve high data throughput. In this paper, we present time-variant angle-resolved impulse responses for a set of 250-kHz shallow-water channels. The measurements were performed at high resolution using 64 hydrophones arranged in a line array. The measured channels are characterized by delay spreads of several milliseconds, Doppler spreads of tens of hertz, and angular spreads up to 30∘ . The angular spread is not separable from the delay-Doppler spread, and the impulse response depends heavily on the direction of arrival. Different beamforming and multichannel equalizer strategies are compared for a single-input–multiple-output configuration. A method combining subarray beamforming and multichannel equalization delivers in both noise- and interference-limited scenarios, transferring data at 78.125 kb/s over ranges up to 770 m.

• Cella, Tommaso; Orten, Pål & Ekman, Torbjörn (2014). MM-WAVE SHORT RANGE OUTDOOR LINKS WITH PHASED ARRAYS, Communications, Control and Signal Processing (ISCCSP), 2014 6th International Symposium on. IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers). ISSN 9781479928910. p. 214–217. doi: 10.1109/ISCCSP.2014.6877853. Full text in Research Archive
• Cella, Tommaso; Orten, Pål & Ekman, Torbjörn (2014). Design of a practical and compact mm-wave MIMO system with optimized capacity and phased arrays. International Journal of Antennas and Propagation. ISSN 1687-5869. 2014(608345). doi: 10.1155/2014/608345. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  In this paper we evaluate the feasibility of short range outdoor mm-wave MIMO links in the 70 GHz portion of the E-band (71–76 GHz). We use phased arrays in order to strongly reduce the impact of the multipath components, thus making the channel mainly line-of-sight (LOS). We design the array using a simple patch as a single element and simulate the performances for a 200 m link and a MIMO system with equal element spacing at the transmitter and the receiver. Each node of the MIMO system consists of a uniform rectangular array (URA) where the single element is a patch antenna, in order to achieve higher gains and narrow beams. Such configuration is much more compact compared to the antennas currently employed for the same bandwidth. We optimize the interelement distances at the transmitter and the receiver and evaluate the capacity achievable with different array sizes. The results show that, for the proposed link budget, capacity up to 29 bit/s/Hz is achievable at a range of 200 m, with practical dimensions. We also show that the beamforming capabilities make the design much more flexible than the single reflector antenna systems. In the last part of the paper, we verify that our antenna can also operate in rainy conditions and longer ranges.

• Ikram, Waqas; Petersen, Stig; Orten, Pål & Thornhill, Nina F. (2014). Adaptive multi-channel transmission power control for industrial wireless instrumentation. IEEE Transactions on Industrial Informatics. ISSN 1551-3203. 10(2), p. 978–990. doi: 10.1109/TII.2014.2310594. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  The adoption of wireless technology for industrial wireless instrumentation requires high-quality communication performance. The use of transmission power control (TPC) can help address industrial issues concerning energy consumption, interference, and fading. This paper presents a TPC algorithm designed for industrial applications based on theoretical and empirical studies. It is shown that the proposed algorithm adapts to variations in link quality, and is hardware-independent and practical.

• Athanasiou, G.; Chathuranga, P.; Fischione, C. & Orten, Pål (2013). Communication Infrastructures in Industrial Automation: The Case of 60 GHz MillimeterWave Communications. Proceedings of Emerging Technologies and Factory Automation (ETFA). Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Wireless sensor networks for industrial automation applications must offer timely, reliable, and energy efficient communications at both low and high data rate. While traditional communication technologies between 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz are sometimes incapable to efficiently achieve the aforementioned goals, new communication strategies are emerging, such as millimeterWave communications. In this overview paper, the general requirements that factory and process automation impose on the network design are reviewed. Moreover, this paper presents and qualitatively evaluates the 60 GHz millimeterWave communication technology for automation. It is argued that the upcoming 60 GHz millimeterWave technology brings an enormous potential and can influence the design of the future communication infrastructures in factory and process automation.

• Cella, Tommaso; Orten, Pål & Ekman, Torbjörn (2013). Wireless access using MIMO subarrays at mm-wave bands, International Symposium on Wireless and Pervasive Computing, ISWPC 2013. IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers). ISSN 9781479921843. doi: 10.1109/ISWPC.2013.6707430. Full text in Research Archive
• Cella, Tommaso; Orten, Pål & Hjelmstad, Jens (2013). MIMO Geometry and Antenna Design for High Capacity and Improved Coverage in mm-Wave Systems. International Journal of Antennas and Propagation. ISSN 1687-5869. 2013. doi: 10.1155/2013/572830. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  We show a way to optimize the capacity and at the same time achieve high coverage in LOS for a mm-wave system indoor. We optimize MIMO with regard to maximum Shannon capacity for a pure LOS channel. We describe the general procedure in order to maximize the capacity for our considered geometry, which consists of a circular arc array at the transmitter and a uniform linear array (ULA) at the receiver. The method is based on the optimization of the interelement distances at the transmitter and the receiver. High coverage is obtained with the use of the circular geometry and beamforming. We propose an example mm-wave system in the 70 GHz portion of the E-band (71–76) GHz. The results show that the proposed system is able to achieve full coverage in LOS as well as high capacity, with practical dimensions.

• Bang, Hans Jørgen; Gesbert, David & Orten, Pål (2012). On the Rate Gap Between Multi- and Single-Cell Processing Under Opportunistic Scheduling. IEEE Transactions on Signal Processing. ISSN 1053-587X. 60(1), p. 415–425. doi: 10.1109/TSP.2011.2170681. Full text in Research Archive
• Bang, Hans Jørgen & Orten, Pål (2011). Scheduling and Feedback Reduction in Coordinated Networks. Journal of Communications and Networks. ISSN 1229-2370. 13(4), p. 339–344. doi: 10.1109/jcn.2011.6157453. Full text in Research Archive
• Orfanus, Dalimir; Janacik, Peter; Eliassen, Frank & Orten, Pål (2011). High-Level Construction of Emergent Self-Organizing Behavior in Massively Distributed Embedded Systems. In Carvalho, Andre de; Zomaya, Albert & Yager, Ronald (Ed.), Third World Congress on Nature and Biologically Inspired Computing (NaBIC 2011). IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers). ISSN 9781457711220. p. 335–341. doi: 10.1109/nabic.2011.6089467. Full text in Research Archive

View all works in NVA

• Orten, Pål (2026). Norsk Maritim AI-senter - MAI, forskning og utvalgte industrianvendelser. Full text in Research Archive
• Rudander, Jacob Hiden; Husøy, Thor; Orten, Pål & Walree, Paul van (2021). Experimental evaluation of an FPGA based Real-Time Doppler estimator. Full text in Research Archive
• Rudander, Jacob Hiden; Husøy, Thor; Orten, Pål & Walree, Paul van (2019). Comparing RLS and LMS adaptive equalizers for large hydrophone arrays in underwater acoustic communication channels. Full text in Research Archive
• Rudander, Jacob Hiden; Husøy, Thor; Orten, Pål & Walree, Paul van (2019). Comparing RLS and LMS adaptive equalizers for large hydrophone arrays in underwater acoustic communication channels. doi: 10.1109/OCEANSE.2019.8867313. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  There is an expected growth in underwater acoustic data traffic. To meet the demand of high data throughput, a migration towards the very high frequency band (>100 kHz) will be necessary. The increment in frequency comes with two problems; high propagation losses and rapid channel fluctuations. One solution addressing both of these obstacles is the use of large hydrophone arrays in combination with multi-channel equalizers. We will in this paper examine and compare tracking properties and convergence rate of the RLS and LMS adaptive algorithm for use in large multichannel equalizers. Using data from a very high frequency (250 kHz) channel we will show that in our channel, for large hydrophone arrays, RLS does not offers a significant advantage over LMS when it comes to tracking channel variations nor convergence rate.

• Rudander, Jacob Hiden; Orten, Pål; Walree, Paul van & Husøy, Thor (2018). Experimental Evaluation of Uplink Underwater Acoustic Communications in Very High Frequency Massive MIMO System. Full text in Research Archive
• Rudander, Jacob Hiden; Husøy, Thor; Orten, Pål & Walree, Paul van (2017). Array processing to mitigate channel fluctuations in high-speed shallow-water communication. Full text in Research Archive
• Rudander, Jacob Hiden; Husøy, Thor; Orten, Pål & Walree, Paul van (2017). Shallow-water channel sounding for high speed acoustic communication. Full text in Research Archive
• Athanasiou, George; Weeraddana, Pradeep Chathuranga; Fischione, Carlo & Orten, Pål (2013). Communication Infrastructures in Industrial Automation: The Case of 60 GHz Millimeter Wave Communications. Full text in Research Archive
• Cella, Tommaso & Orten, Pål (2013). Improving coverage in mm-wave system by optimized MIMO geometry. Full text in Research Archive
• Cella, Tommaso; Orten, Pål & Ekman, Torbjørn (2013). Wireless access using MIMO subarrays at mm-wave bands. Full text in Research Archive
• Cella, Tommaso & Orten, Pål (2012). Design of a MIMO geometry for high capacity and full coverage mm-wave system. Full text in Research Archive
• Rauniyar, Saurab; Orten, Pål & Petersen, Stig (2026). Toward Next-Generation Maritime Communication: Solutions for Near-Shore and Onboard Ship Challenges. Universitetet i Oslo. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Towards Better Connectivity at Sea Nine out of ten goods traded worldwide travel by sea, and modern ships increasingly depend on data for navigation, cargo tracking, engine monitoring, safety, and crew communication. Yet maritime wireless links remain unreliable. In near-shore environments, large vessels can block the direct signal between users and the shore, while sea reflections and changing propagation conditions make the signal unpredictable. Below deck, steel walls, doors, and narrow corridors create strong multipath reflections that distort signals. Communication may therefore fail precisely when it is needed most. This thesis investigates practical ways to improve communication without relying only on costly satellites, conventional relays, or other infrastructure-heavy solutions. It proposes intelligent reflecting surfaces, which act like programmable mirrors for radio waves, together with advanced methods that allow several users to share the same frequencies more efficiently. The results show that these approaches can improve coverage, data rate, and reliability under vessel-induced shadowing and uncertain channel conditions. The thesis also shows that weak signal strength is not always the main onboard problem; delayed reflections can be equally important, and suitable signal-processing methods can reduce their effect. These findings support future maritime networks for safer navigation, remote monitoring, connected crews, and increasingly autonomous ship operations.

• Bøhagen, Frode; Orten, Pål & Øien, Geir Egil Dahle (2007). Design of capacity-optimal high-rank line-of-sight MIMO channels. Universitetet i Oslo. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  This paper describes a technique for realizing a high-rank channel matrix in a line-of-sight (LOS) multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) transmission scenario. This is beneficial for systems which are unable to make use of the originally derived MIMO gain given by independent and identically distributed (i.i.d.) flat Rayleigh fading channels. Typical applications are fixed wireless access (FWA) and radio relay systems. The technique is based on optimization of antenna placement in uniform linear arrays with respect to mutual information (MI) for pure LOS channels. Both the case where the channel is only known at the receiver and the case where the channel is known at the transmitter and receiver are treated. By introducing a new and more general 3-D geometrical model than that applied in earlier works, additional insight into the optimal design parameters is gained. We also perform a novel analysis of the sensitivity of the optimal design parameters, and derive analytical expressions for the eigenvalues in the pure LOS channel case, which are valid also when allowing for non-optimal design. Furthermore, we investigate the approximations introduced in the derivations, in order to reveal when the results are applicable, which turns out to be for most practical situations. The LOS transmission matrix is used in a Ricean fading channel model which incorporates spatial correlation between the non-LOS components, and performance is evaluated with respect to the average MI and the MI cumulative distribution function. Our results show that even with some deviation from the optimal design, the LOS MIMO scenario outperforms the i.i.d. Rayleigh scenario in terms of MI.

• Bøhagen, Frode; Orten, Pål & Øien, Geir Egil Dahle (2007). Modeling and analysis of a 40 GHz MIMO system for fixed wireless access. Universitetet i Oslo. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  The throughput of a possible future fixed wireless access multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) system operating at high frequencies is investigated. We extend our previous theoretical work on MIMO for line-of-sight (LOS) channels to show that a considerable gain in throughput is achieved compared to single-input single-output transmission for a practical system, which among other things is subject to antenna array size constraints. In our investigation we apply a propagation model applicable for high frequencies, where often LOS is required for sufficient coverage, and where weather phenomena like rain have considerable impact on the quality of the radio link. A state of the art transmission scheme is utilized with eigenmode transmission, low density parity check coded modulation, power control, and bit loading. The performance is evaluated both with respect to throughput and Shannon capacity.

View all works in NVA