The Swedish Defense Research Agency, FOI, employs 800 full time research scientists to develop innovations in technology and research as well as defense and security. FOI has developed an underwater wireless technology that has been tested for accurately predicting weather conditions, sea pollution and earthquakes. The newly developed under water wireless technology, a vast improvement over traditional echo sound technology which has many flaws including a limited data rate in underwater transmissions, was initially developed for military purposes. The technology has been on a trial run sponsored by the European Union to detect environmental changes in the sea.
The wireless technology can be used to accurately predict earthquakes, to follow underwater weather patterns, to monitor sea pollution and climate changes as well as to help in oil and gas industry exploration. Unmanned underwater vehicles could monitor larger areas of the sea on a 24/7 basis. The new technology, capable of transmitting images, movies and sound, is faster in transmitting information and the cost for large scale projects can drastically reduce costs.