UNDERWATER

ACOUSTIC
CHANNEL
VR-EC-9
Min Khant Zaw
Underwater Acoustic Communication
◦ Underwater Acoustic Communication is a technique of sending and receiving messages below water.

◦ Wireless communication technology has become part of our daily life, the idea of wireless underwater communications may still seen far-
fetched.

◦ Underwater Communication has low data rates because it uses acoustic waves instead of electromagnetic waves

◦ Acoustic waves travel with the speed of sound which depends on the medium they are passing through.

◦ We cannot use radio or electromagnetic waves due to the large attenuation and absorption electromagnetic signal doesn’t propagate well in
the seawater.

◦ Although cabled submersible systems remain indispensable but if high-speed communication link is to exists.
Hydrophones
◦ There are several ways of employing underwater wireless communication but the most
common is using hydrophones.

◦ A hydrophone is a microphone designed to be used underwater for recording or listening to

underwater sound

◦ Most hydrophones are based on a piezoelectric transducer that generate electricity when
subject to a pressure change.
Acoustic Modem
◦ It is used to transmit data under water, much as telephone modems are
used to transmit data over phone lines

◦ Converts digital data into special underwater sound signals

◦ These signals are then received by a second acoustic modem and

converted back into digital data

◦ Acoustic modems can be used for underwater telemetry, ROV and AUV
command and control, diver communications, underwater monitoring
and data logging, and other applications requiring underwater wireless
communications.

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Acoustic Communication Model
Wireless Underwater Communication

Advantages Disadvantages

◦ It avoids data spoofing ◦ Battery power is limited and battery cannot

recharge easily

◦ It avoids privacy leakage ◦ The available bandwidth is severely limited

◦ Underwater sensors are prone to failure due to
fouling, corrosion, etc.
◦ Pollution monitoring
◦ Future ocean environment would be
increasingly complicated.
◦ Fast data transferring
Applications
◦ Underwater Data links can be with satellite data links to provide data in real-time from instruments on the sea floor to scientists ashore.

◦ Can be used to provide early warnings of Tsunami generated by undersea earthquakes.

◦ Pressure sensors that are deployed on the sea floor can detected Tsunami

◦ Automatic Underwater Vehicles (AUV ).

◦ Iceberg Detection.
Autonomous Underwater Vehicle (AUV)
◦ An Autonomous Underwater Vehicle (AUV) is an unmanned
underwater robot that is capable of independently completing a
pre-programmed mission.

◦ AUVs are small, easily portable vehicles. They are self-guiding

and self-powered

◦ Once the AUV has returned, the engineers and scientists can
directly download the data off the AUV onto the computers
aboard the ship. The data is raw and needs processing but can
be used as quickly as needed.
 THANK YOU
FOR YOUR ATTENTION
Any Question ?