Underwater Acoustic Link Acquisition Waveform
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current electromagnetic (EM) communication technologies face significant challenges in achieving high data rate communications over reasonable ranges to submerged platforms due to high attenuation losses in water, making them impractical for underwater applications, while acoustic communication technologies have lagged behind RF technologies due to complexities in the ocean environment.
Innovation Solution
A method for acoustic communication that involves establishing a communication channel by transmitting a link acquisition waveform, receiving and processing it to determine channel parameters, and then transmitting data using Handshake Communication Mode (HCM) and Data Communication Mode (DCM) to minimize synchronization time, reduce interference, and adapt to environmental factors.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If electromagnetic communication is used for underwater transmission, then communication speed is high, but signal attenuation is extremely high making it impractical for submerged platforms
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces electromagnetic wave transmission with acoustic wave transmission for underwater communication. Acoustic waves propagate through water much more efficiently than electromagnetic waves, reducing signal attenuation by orders of magnitude while enabling practical submerged platform communication.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the fundamental transmission medium parameter from electromagnetic waves to acoustic waves. This parameter change exploits the physical property that acoustic waves experience minimal absorption losses in water at frequencies below 10 kHz, enabling long-range underwater communication.
2Loss of energy
If acoustic communication is used for underwater transmission, then signal attenuation is low enabling long range communication, but propagation complexity increases due to ocean environment factors
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary channel characterization by transmitting test waveforms before actual data transmission. This preliminary action measures propagation parameters such as speed of sound, attenuation coefficients, and multipath characteristics, allowing the system to adapt communication parameters accordingly and simplify subsequent transmissions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements feedback mechanisms where received signals are analyzed to determine channel conditions, and this information is used to adjust transmission parameters. The system measures propagation speed variations due to temperature, pressure, and salinity changes, and adapts its communication protocol to maintain reliable transmission despite ocean environment complexity.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach enables robust and efficient acoustic communication by minimizing interference and adapting to environmental conditions, allowing for reliable data transmission over long distances with reduced distortion and error, effectively addressing the limitations of EM communication in underwater environments.
Implementation Method 1
If one considers the propagation of acoustic waves within the ocean medium, the losses are orders of magnitude smaller. At frequencies below 1 kHz absorption losses are so small that acoustic signals can, under favourable conditions, propagate hundreds or even thousands of miles
Implementation Method 2
At frequencies below 1 kHz absorption losses are so small that acoustic signals can, under favourable conditions, propagate hundreds or even thousands of miles
Implementation Method 3
Changes in depth, temperature and salinity of water, not only influence the speed of sound propagation, but also influence the direction of sound propagation. Specifically, as sound propagates it is seen to 'bend' or refract as it encounters changes in propagation speed.
Data Source
AI summary
A method of underwater communication between a link initiator and a link receptor, by transmitting a link acquisition waveform from the initiator to the receptor, and establishing communications channel parameters from such a received waveform. Data is then transmitted according to these parameters, which may include range, direction, frequency band and Doppler, with greater efficiency and robustness.