NEC Laboratories America

Optical Sensing & Solutions

From early concepts and laboratory validation to proven field deployments on live infrastructure, we develop technologies that sense the physical world, transform observations into intelligence, and enable informed action. Building on our expertise in optics and photonics, we are expanding toward multimodal sensing, AI-powered understanding, and intelligent systems that interact with the physical world.

Deployed telecom cables, urban fiber networks, and emerging optical sensors provide a powerful foundation for observing the physical world at scale. Our research spans forward-looking theoretical studies, cutting-edge experiments, artificial intelligence, and world- and industry-first field trials. We transform existing infrastructure into dense, real-time sensing platforms capable of monitoring complex environments over large areas.

Our research follows a broad sense–understand–act vision. We develop optical and distributed fiber sensing technologies that capture physical phenomena; AI methods that interpret complex signals, combine information across sensors, diagnose events, and predict changing conditions; and intelligent solutions that translate these insights into decisions and responses. Looking ahead, we envision extending this foundation beyond optical sensing to multimodal sensing and autonomous systems, including robotics, that can perceive, reason about, and respond to the physical world.

Our current work spans optical sensing, infrared imaging and spectroscopy, radio-frequency spectrum sensing and AI-enabled sensing analytics. These technologies can detect, localize, and characterize vibrations, intrusions, equipment conditions, and environmental changes along an infrastructure network’s physical route. By integrating sensing with edge computing and AI, we seek to move beyond data collection toward real-time understanding, prediction, and automated response.

By uniting advanced sensing, physical-world AI, and intelligent action, Optical Sensing & Solutions aims to create safer, more resilient, and more autonomous systems for infrastructure, utilities, transportation, environmental monitoring, public safety, smart cities, and intelligent manufacturing.

Join Us

Are you interested in joining us? We seek the next generation of thought leaders in optical sensing for researcher positions. Outstanding applicants pursuing a career in optical sensing are encouraged to visit our careers page to learn more and apply for available positions.

Summer 2026 Internship Applications are now closed.

Exciting internship opportunities for Summer 2027 will be available on our internship page this fall.  We are looking for students pursuing advanced degrees in Computer Science and Electrical Engineering. Internships are typically 3 months long during the summer. The benefits of working for us include the opportunity to quickly join a project team applying cutting-edge technology to industry-leading concepts.

To apply for a Summer Internship, visit our Internship page.

Learn More

Want to learn more about our optical sensing & solutions department? Meet our team of experts, check out our blog posts, or read our latest publications.

Featured Optical Sensing & Solutions Research Projects

Latest Optical Sensing & Solutions News

41.5-Tb/s Transmission Over 549 km of Field Deployed Fiber Using Throughput Optimized Probabilistic-Shaped 144QAM

We demonstrate high spectral efficiency transmission over 549 km of field-deployed single-mode fiber using probabilistic-shaped 144QAM. We achieved 41.5 Tb/s over the C-band at a spectral efficiency of 9.02 b/s/Hz using 32-Gbaud channels at a channel spacing of 33.33 GHz, and 38.1 Tb/s at a spectral

Distributed Temperature and Strain Sensing Using Brillouin Optical Time Domain Reflectometry Over a Few Mode Elliptical Core Optical Fiber

We propose a single-ended Brillouin-based sensor in elliptical-core few-mode optical fiber for multi-parameter measurement using spontaneous Brillouin scattering. Distributed sensing of temperature and strain is demonstrated over 0.5 km elliptical-core few-mode fiber.

Intelligent Filtering-Penalty Monitoring and Mitigation for Cascaded WSSs using Ensemble Learning Algorithm

An ensemble learning algorithm is applied to enhance filtering tolerance of cascaded WSSs in open ROADM environment to demonstrate ~0.8dB Q-factor improvement over MLSE after transmitting over 3200km with 16 ROADMs.

Neuron-Network-based Nonlinearity Compensation Algorithm

A simplified, system-agnostic NLC algorithm based on a neuron network is proposed to pre-distort symbols at transmitter side to demonstrate ~0.6dB Q improvement after 2800km SMF transmission using 32Gbaud DP-16QAM.

Optimization of Probabilistic Shaping Enabled Transceivers with Large Constellation Sizes for High Capacity Transmission

We study digital signal processing techniques to optimize the back-to-back performance of large probabilistic shaped constellations. We cover joint optimization of LDPC and constellation shaping, CD pre-compensation, clipping and I/Q imbalance compensation.

The Resilience of Hermite- and Laguerre-Gaussian Modes in Turbulence

Vast geographical distances in Africa are a leading cause for the so-called digital divide due to the high cost of installing fiber. Free-space optical (FSO) communications offer a convenient and higher bandwidth alternative to point-to-point radio microwave links, with the possibility of repurposing