Implementation of multiuser detection strategies for coherentunderwater acoustic communication

This paper presents multiple access interference cancellation techniques based on joint implementation of spatial-beamforming and multiuser detection strategies for coherent underwater acoustic communication network. Performances of adaptive multiuser detection strategies based on weighted parallel, successive, and recursive successive interference cancellation techniques are compared using experimental sea-trial data. Results show that the receiver structure adopting weighted recursive successive interference cancellation (RSIC) exhibits robustness in extracting useful data for weak users in the presence of co-channel interference from strong users. In addition, this type of structure simultaneously suppresses the summed interference effects contributed by weaker users toward the strongest user. The RSIC structure is therefore a potential candidate for multiple access interference suppression in coherent shallow water acoustic communication systems     

Geoacoustic seafloor exploration with a towed array in a shallowwater area of the Strait of Sicily

Acoustic propagation in shallow water is greatly dependent on the geoacoustic properties of the seabottom. This paper exploits this dependence for estimating geoacoustic sediment properties from the bottom acoustic returns of known signals received on a hydrophone line array. There are two major issues in this approach: one is the feasibility of acoustic inversion with a limited aperture line array, the other is related to the knowledge of the geometry of the experimental configuration. To test the feasibility of this approach, a 40-hydrophone-4-m spaced towed array together with a low-frequency acoustic source, was operated at a shallow water site in the Strait of Sicily. In order to estimate the array deformation in real time, it has been equipped with a set of nonacoustic positioning sensors (compasses, tilt-meters, pressure gauges). The acoustic data were inverted using two complementary approaches: a genetic algorithm (GA) like approach and a radial basis functions (RBF) inversion scheme. More traditional methods, based on core sampling, seismic survey and geophone data, together with Hamilton's regression curves, have also been employed on the same tracks, in order to provide a ground truth reference environment. The results of the experiment, can be summarized as follows: 1) the towed array movement is not negligible for the application considered and the use of positioning sensors are essential for a proper acoustic inversion, 2) the inversion with GA and RBF are in good qualitative agreement with the ground truth model, and 3) the GA scheme tends to have better stability properties. On the other hand, repeated in version of successive field measurements requires much less computational effort with RBF     

Spatial diversity equalization applied to underwater communications

Underwater acoustic digital communication is difficult because of the nature of the fading multipath channels. Digital signal processing, such as adaptive equalization, is known to greatly improve the communication data rate by limiting intersymbol interference (ISI). However, existing underwater acoustic equalization studies are limited to single-channel techniques, and spatial diversity processing is limited to selection or combining. In this paper, we design minimum mean-square error (MMSE) equalizers jointly among all spatial diversity channels. We call this spatial diversity equalization (SDE). Results are based on a very sparse vertical array in a midrange underwater acoustic channel. We study the effect of element number and placement, the length of the equalization filters, and linear feedforward versus nonlinear decision feedback algorithms. A suboptimum equalizer combiner (EC) is studied to alleviate the computational intensity of JCE. We first design the system for a known acoustic channel; later, some results are verified using adaptive algorithms. Results are presented both in terms of the mean-square error (MSE) and the probability of a symbol error. The latter is important as it is the ultimate interest for a digital communication system. We found that system performance improves rapidly with an increase in the number of spatial channels     

Performance Enhancement of Multiuser Passive Time Reversal Communication Based on Space-Time Block Coding

Reliable,with high data rate,acoustic communication in time-varying,multipath shallow water environment is a hot research topic recently.Passive time reversal communication has shown promising results in improvement of the system performance.In multiuser environment,the system performance is significantly degraded due to the interference among different users.Passive time reversal can reduce such interference by minimizing the cross-correlated version of channel impulse response among users,which can be realized by the well-separated users in depth.But this method also has its shortcomings,even with the absence of relative motion,the minimization sometimes may be impossible because of the time-varying environment.Therefore in order to avoid the limitation of minimizing the cross-correlated channel function,an approach of passive time reversal based on space-time block coding (STBC) is presented in this paper.In addition,a single channel equalizer is used as a post processing technique to reduce the residual symbol interference.Experimental results at 13 kHz with 2 kHz bandwidth demonstrate that this method has better performance to decrease bit error rate and improve signal to noise ratio,compared with passive time reversal alone or passive time reversal combined with equalization.     

北冰洋冰下环境噪声：长期冰站观测结果

本文利用中国第9次北极科学考察长期冰站自容水听器记录的数据对北冰洋冰下环境噪声进行了研究。通过对两段7秒长的冰层引起的噪声的时频分析表明：无论是冰层碰撞噪声还是冰层破裂噪声在时域都存在大量的峰值点（呈现脉冲特性）,在频域都存在丰富的频率分量。冰层碰撞噪声可以持续数秒,而冰层破裂噪声的持续时间要短得多（小于几十毫秒）。本文采用高斯分布和对称alpha稳态分布来拟合冰下脉冲噪声。对称alpha稳态分布可以跟踪脉冲噪声的重尾,从而获得更好的性能,而高斯分布则效果不佳。本文还分析了冰下环境噪声观测试验期间采集到的气象参数,推断出冰下脉冲噪声是由较高的风速和升高的大气温度共同作用于冰层造成的。本文还研究了冰下环境噪声长期的功率谱密度变化与气象参数之间的皮尔逊相关系数。     

Recent advances in high-speed underwater acoustic communications

In recent years, underwater acoustic (UWA) communications have received much attention as their applications have begun to shift from military toward commercial. Digital communications through UWA channels differ substantially from those in other media, such as radio channels, due to severe signal degradations caused by multipath propagation and high temporal and spatial variability of the channel conditions. The design of underwater acoustic communication systems has until recently relied on the use of noncoherent modulation techniques. However, to achieve high data rates on the severely band-limited UWA channels, bandwidth-efficient modulation techniques must be considered, together with array processing for exploitation of spatial multipath diversity. The new generation of underwater communication systems, employing phase-coherent modulation techniques, has a potential of achieving at least an order of magnitude increase in data throughput. The emerging communication scenario in which the modern underwater acoustic systems mill operate is that of an underwater network consisting of stationary and mobile nodes. Current research focuses on the development of efficient signal processing algorithms, multiuser communications in the presence of interference, and design of efficient modulation and coding schemes. This paper presents a review of recent results and research problems in high-speed underwater acoustic communications, focusing on the bandwidth-efficient phase-coherent methods. Experimental results are included to illustrate the state-of-the-art coherent detection of digital signals transmitted at 30 and 40 kb/s through a rapidly varying one-mile shallow water channel     

Estimates of geoacoustic model parameters from inversions of horizontal and vertical line array data

This paper describes results from geoacoustic inversion of low-frequency acoustic data recorded at a receiving array divided into two sections, a sparse bottom laid horizontal array (HLA) and a vertical array (VLA) deployed in shallow water. The data are from an experiment conducted by the Norwegian Defence Research Establishment (FFI) in the Barents Sea, using broadband explosives (shot) sources. A two-layer range-independent geoacoustic model, consistent with seismic profiles from the area, described the environment. Inversion for geoacoustic model parameters was carried out using a fast implementation of the hybrid adaptive simplex simulated annealing (ASSA) inversion algorithm, with replica fields computed by the ORCA normal mode code. Low-frequency (40-128 Hz) data from six shot sources at ranges 3-9 km from the array were considered. Estimates of sediment and substrate p-wave velocities and sediment thickness were found to be consistent between independent inversions of data from the two sections of the array.     

Potential performance of parametric communications

From a designer viewpoint, a parametric array should not appear different from any other type of acoustic transducer and should be described by a limited set of design equations together with their range of validity. In this paper, these design equations are stated and discussed. They are used to optimize the acoustic parameters of an underwater communication system using parametric transduction and to evaluate its performance in terms of signal-to-noise ratio and data-rate limits as a function of transmission range. It turns out that, for a maximum data transmission rate at a given range, there is a set of optimum design parameters which is a function of the array size only. This means that, once given an operational range, the primary frequency, the electrical power, the maximum acoustic source level, and the directionality of the transducer can be deduced directly from the array diameter     

Characteristics of acoustic propagation to the eastern vertical line array receiver during the summer 1996 New England shelfbreak PRIMER experiment

During July and August of 1996, the summer component of the New England shelfbreak front PRIMER experiment was fielded in the Mid-Atlantic Bight, at a site due south of Martha's Vineyard, MA. This study produced acoustic transmission data from a network of moored sources and receivers in conjunction with very-high-resolution oceanography measurements. This paper analyzes receptions at the northeast array receiver from two 400 Hz acoustic tomography sources, with the transmission paths going from the continental slope onto the continental shelf. These data, along with forward acoustic-propagation modeling based on moored oceanographic data, SeaSoar hydrography measurements, and bottom measurements, reveal many new and interesting aspects of acoustic propagation in a complicated slope-shelf environment. For example, one sees that both the shelfbreak front and tidally generated soliton internal wave packets produce stronger mode coupling than previously expected, leading to an interesting time-and-range-variable population of the acoustic normal modes. Additionally, the arrival time wander and the signal spread of acoustic pulses show variability that can be attributed to the presence of a frontal meander and variability in the soliton field. These and other effects are discussed in this paper, with an emphasis on creating a strong connection between the environmental measurements and the acoustic field characteristics.     

水声通信及组网的现状和展望

水声通信是海洋中无线信息传输的主要技术手段。水声通信技术在海洋环境监测、水下航行器/载人潜水器作业等方面有着广泛应用。同时,水声信道传输状态多变、海洋作业环境恶劣,对通信算法和设备可靠性有较高要求,水声通信及组网成为目前的研究热点。文中面向海洋环境监测领域,从水声通信物理层技术、网络技术及组网应用等方面进行介绍,并对未来技术趋势进行展望。     

Ray Theory Application in Long Baseline System

The long baseline (LBL) system is widely used to locate and track autonomous underwater vehicles (AUV) through acoustic communication.Three important issues are presented here in LBL system application with AUV.Those issues which regard the normal acoustic communication between LBL system and AUV are the depth of towed array,the length of beacon cable,and the effective area of the AUV.The first issue is the key of the LBL system,which ensures the normal communication between towed array and beacons.The second issue which impacts the normal communication from the AUV to beacons in available range should be considered after the first one has been settled.Then the last issue determines the safe work area of the AUV.The ordinary differential equations (ODE) algorithm of ray is deduced from Snell′s law.The ODE algorithm is applied to obtain sound rays from sound source to receiver.These problems are solved by the judgment that whether rays pinging from a sound source arrives at a receiver.The sea trial shows that these methods have much validity and practicality.     

Underwater Acoustic Communication Based on Pattern Time Delay Shift Coding Scheme

1 .Introduction Underwater acoustic (UWA) communicationis a fast developingfield,and its applicationis notlimitedto military affairs ,but is also extendinginto commercial fields .Catipovic (1990) ,Stojanovic(1996) and Kilfoyle and Baggeroer (2000) pointed…     

Performance analysis of digital acoustic communication in a shallowwater channel

The major obstacle to underwater acoustic communication is the interference of multi-path signals due to surface and bottom reflections. High speed acoustic transmission over a shallow water channel characterized by small grazing angles presents formidable difficulties. The reflection losses associated with such small angles are low, causing large amplitudes in multi-path signals. In this paper we propose a simple but effective model for multi-path interference, which is then used to assess the performance of a digital communication system operating in a shallow water channel. The results indicate that transmission rates in excess of 8 kbits/s are possible over a distance of 13 km and channel depth of only 20 meters. Such a system offers improved performance in applications such as data collection from underwater sensors     

北极冰下声传播特性实验研究

通过2017年8月6日在北极海域开展的一次声传播实验,开展了冰下声传播特性实验研究。结合Burke-Twersky （BT）散射模型与射线模型,分析了冰下声传播的多途到达结构,研究了接收声强变化规律,解释了接收声强在30 min内衰减20 dB的现象,分析了接收信号的时间相关性,探讨了接收信号相关性较低的原因。实验结果表明,表面接收信号主要由小角度多次反转反射声线、一次海底反射声线和二次海底反射声线依次构成,表面声道到达信号显著强于海底反射信号。试验冰站在试验期间的运动导致了声传播信号强度和相关性的迅速衰减,并通过仿真得到了验证。     

Spatial diversity equalization for MIMO ocean acousticcommunication channels

The available bandwidth of ocean acoustic channels is inherently narrow that impedes high-transmission rate and makes it difficult for multiple users to communicate simultaneously. To alleviate this problem, spatial diversity antennas are used to increase the date rate. In this paper, we employ the spatial diversity equalizers (SDE) to increase the effective channel bandwidth by minimizing the mean-square error (mse). Although joint equalizers have been used in digital telephone subscriber lines to suppress crosstalk, we apply the concept to ocean acoustic channels and show that multiuser communication is possible despite the narrow-channel bandwidth. In addition, we will show that the advantage of SDE is not because we use more taps, but because we collect the data carried through various ocean paths. By applying the saddle point integration method to multiinput multioutput (MIMO) channels, we compute the probability of error (PE) to show that a factor of 3-4 of channel reuse is possible     

A circular passive synthetic array: an inverse problem approach

Based on the general concept of the inverse acoustic radiation problem, the temporal scanning of a stationary acoustic field along a closed contour is used to simplify the measurement approach for obtaining information on source directionality. The mathematical formulation is derived from a model of the two-dimensional acoustic field. The formulation of the inverse problem is also investigated to establish a methodology for improving the angular resolution of the array processing. The fundamental relationship between the sound sources and the circular passive synthetic array is explored, utilizing existing mathematical methods, in order to develop the processing algorithm. Other subjects of practical interest, such as directional ambiguity, effect of Doppler frequency, interference noise, and processing gain are discussed. It is concluded that the results can be used to establish guidelines for engineering design and deployment of this type of synthetic array, and to further exploit the new array signal processing technique     

Estimation of Transmission Loss in the Presence of Geoacoustic Inversion Uncertainty

A common problem in sonar system prediction is that the ocean environment is not well known. Utilizing probabilistic based results from geoacoustic inversions we characterize parameters relevant to sonar performance. This paper describes the estimation of transmission loss and its statistical properties based on posterior parameter probabilities obtained from inversion of ocean acoustic array data. This problem is solved by first finding an ensemble of relevant environmental model parameters and the associated posterior probability using a likelihood based inversion of the acoustic array data. In a second step, each realization of these model parameters is weighted with their posterior probability to map into the transmission loss domain. This approach is illustrated using vertical-array data from a recent benchmark data set and from data acquired during the Asian Seas International Acoustics Experiment (ASIAEX) 2001 in the East China Sea. The environmental parameters are first estimated using a probabilistic-based geoacoustic inversion technique. Based on the posterior probability that each of these environmental models fits the ocean acoustic array data, each model is mapped into transmission loss. This enables us to compute a full probability distribution for the transmission loss at selected frequencies, ranges, and depths, which potentially could be used for sonar performance prediction.     

极区冰盖下定点剖面测量系统

介绍一种新型水下定点剖面测量系统,系统中的测量平台能够沿系留绳上下移动、进行温盐深(CTD)和海流(ACM)剖面数据的循环采集,观测数据可以通过水声通讯设备定期回收。和以往的分层测量的定点剖面测量系统相比,该系统是用一套仪器替代多组仪器实现整个剖面的测量,更具有先进性和经济性。文章简要介绍了可用于极区冰盖下的定点剖面测量系统的总体设计方案。     

VLF source localization with a freely drifting acoustic sensorarray

The source localization and tracking capability of the freely drifting Swallow float volumetric array is demonstrated with the matched-field processing (MFP) technique using the 14-Hz CW data collected during a 1989 float experiment conducted in the northeast Pacific. Initial MFP of the experimental data revealed difficulties in estimating the source depth and range while the source azimuth estimate was quite successful. The main cause of the MFP performance degradation was incomplete knowledge of the environment. An environment adaptation technique using a global optimization algorithm was developed to alleviate the environmental mismatch problem, allowing the ocean-acoustic environment to be adapted to the acoustic data in a matched-field sense. Using the adapted environment, the 14-Hz source was successfully localized and tracked in azimuth and range within a region of interest using the MFP technique at a later time interval. Two types of environmental parameters were considered, i.e., sound speed and modal wave number. While both approaches yield similar results, the modal wave number adaptation implementation is more computationally efficient     

Low-frequency acoustic wave-scattering phenomena under ice cover

Studies on low-frequency acoustic wave-scattering phenomena due to under-ice roughness made by utilizing a rough, thin-ice plate model are presented. The model naturally divides the reflected field solution into specular and off-specular components. The model for specular components can give an excellent propagation loss prediction if the combined effects of under-ice roughness scattering, ice absorptions, and ice thickness are taken into account. The model for scattered or off-specular components is evaluated for a point source and point receiver geometry to study various spreading phenomena