Underwater Acoustic Communications

This proposal addresses the development of an improved algorithm for estimating the time-varying impulse response of the ocean in rapidly fluctuating environments, and the development of the means to exploit the temporal diversity of acoustic channels. The short-term objective is the initial design and testing of this technique using direct-sequence spread-spectrum modulation, high-resolution decision feedback equalizing with parallel tracking of large Doppler, based on the methodology developed at FAU by Pr. Beaujean. The long-term objective of this program is the development, testing and commercialization of a high-speed high-frequency acoustic modem (HS-HFAM) capable of transmitting data at true rates of up to 105,000 bits per second (bps), at a maximum range of 500 meters. This modem would operate between 240 kHz and 360 kHz approximately, and achieve a peak range-to-true rate in excess of 50 kbps-km.