Voice Communication by Ultrasonic Excitation of a Ship's Hull - A summary of the Acoustic Problems and Solutions
Abstract
During battle at sea, damage inflicted on the hull or superstructure of a ship by aerial, surface, or undersea attack could so seriously impair the ship's communication systems that personnel would be exposed to extreme danger through loss of personal contact and control. To preclude this possibility, a last-resort communication system based on ultrasonic excitation of hull structures is proposed that could carry voice messages between distant points on the ship. Communication of data with steady state signals by ultrasonics aboard ship was initially undertaken by the Naval Weapons Center, China Lake, CA. The concept, broadened to provide voice communication, was further development by the Naval Research Laboratory. In all these efforts actual implementation was constrained by narrow specifications. These specifications required a portable communications apparatus to serve at the transmitting end and a fixed or portable apparatus at the receiving end. Transmission was to be possible at any (correctly) selected location and reception was to occur in the nearest damage control locker or central damage control compartment. Transmission paths were designated to be the main ribbing, stringers, and bulkheads of the ship's hull and the ship's external steel casing. These constraints severely limited possible design approaches. Keywords: Acoustic transducers; Ultrasonic transducers.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Mar 18, 1988
- Accession Number
- ADA191624
Entities
People
- S. Hanish
Organizations
- United States Naval Research Laboratory