SIO Acoustic and Optical Under Water Communications Community Test Range
Abstract
We propose the development of an underwater communications range based on highfrequencyacoustic and optical technologies. Underwat"er acoustic and opticalcommunications technologies both offer distinct advantages and drawbacks: opticalsystems offer high bandwidths and simple transmission paths but are adversely impactedby water clarity; acoustic systems offer reduced bandwidths and complex transmissionpaths but are unaffected by water clarity. There is a pressing need to test thesetechnologies together in a realistic ocean environment to asses their relative merits andoptimize their performance characteristics. In addition, this range will be accessedthrough an internet portal, enabling access by students and postdoctoral scholars remotelyand at low cost, providing a valuable research tool and educational resource to earlycareerinvestigators. The range will contain standard optical and acoustical componentson underwater nodes, enabling users to access the underwater channel without anyrequirements for their own hardware modules. Standard external connectors will also beprovided, enabling the operation of custom hardware provided by users for test andevaluation. Two fixed nodes will be cabled to the SIO Pier providing continuous accessto fixed transmission paths. Two mobile, autonomous nodes will also be constructed,allowing flexible transmission paths for users who require specific transmissiongeometries. The deployment of autonomous nodes will be for limited periods and requirethe use of nearshore craft and personnel. We anticipate that the combined optical /acoustic communications community test range will provide a common test bed andevaluation resource for users from academia and industry developing and testing highfrequencycommunications equipment and help educate a new generation of investi"gatorsin this critical field.
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Aug 20, 2019
- Source ID
- N000141912633
Entities
People
- Grant B Deane
Organizations
- Office of Naval Research
- United States Navy
- University of California, San Diego