The “Makroskopische Molekulare Kommunikation (MAMOKO)” project, funded by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research under grant number 16KIS0917, aimed to develop a viable alternative to conventional electromagnetic‑wave based wireless communication for industrial settings such as pipelines, wastewater systems, and facilities handling explosive chemicals. In these environments, radio waves are often unsuitable, so the project explored the use of molecules or very small particles in the micro‑ to nanometer range as information carriers—a concept known as molecular communication (MC). While most prior work in MC focused on nano‑ or micro‑scale biomedical applications, MAMOKO concentrated on macroscopic industrial use cases.

The research team built an integrated simulation environment for liquid‑based MC that employs superparamagnetic iron‑oxide nanoparticles (SPIONs) and also for air‑based MC. The simulation framework supports both diffusion‑driven and advection‑driven propagation, allowing the study of point‑to‑point and point‑to‑multipoint network topologies. Analytical channel models were derived and validated against the simulation results. The team also investigated modulation schemes adapted from conventional wireless communication, such as on‑off keying and concentration‑shift keying, and developed detection algorithms that incorporate machine‑learning classifiers to interpret the received molecular signals. In addition, the project introduced multiple‑access strategies for molecular multi‑point‑to‑point channels, addressing the challenge of interference in dense networks.

A key technical outcome was the development of a flexible simulator for nanoparticle flow in pipe networks. This tool models the transport of SPIONs through cylindrical conduits, accounting for pressure gradients, fluid velocity profiles, and particle interactions. Coupled with a pressure‑and‑flow model for kettle‑shaped pipe sections, the simulator enables end‑to‑end performance evaluation of MC links in realistic industrial geometries. The researchers also defined quantitative metrics for nanonetwork formation, such as node connectivity probability and network latency, and for communication performance between nanosensors and external gateways, including bit‑error rate and throughput. These metrics provide a basis for comparing different modulation and detection strategies and for guiding the design of future MC hardware.

The project’s scientific contributions were complemented by extensive collaboration. The project leader was Friedrich‑Alexander‑Universität Erlangen‑Nürnberg, with Technische Universität Berlin contributing to work packages 3‑2 to 3‑5 and 4a‑5, which covered channel modeling, parameter‑study preparation, simulation validation, monitoring, and multiple‑access design. The collaboration extended to TU Dresden and the Technology Innovation Institute in Abu Dhabi, where joint student projects were carried out. Over the four‑year period from 1 November 2018 to 31 October 2022, 27 students participated in ten research projects, covering topics such as FPGA‑based acceleration of particle‑flow models, Rust‑based efficient simulation of macroscopic MC, MIMO MC systems, and in‑body ultrasound and terahertz communication experiments. These student activities not only provided training but also produced additional simulation tools and experimental data that fed back into the main research effort.

In summary, MAMOKO advanced the field of molecular communication by delivering a comprehensive simulation platform for macroscopic MC, establishing analytical channel models, and defining performance metrics for industrial applications. The project’s collaborative framework, involving multiple German universities and international partners, facilitated the integration of theoretical, simulation, and experimental work, thereby laying the groundwork for future deployment of molecular communication systems in challenging industrial environments.