Estimation of Rapidly Time-Varying Sparse Channels

The estimation of sparse shallow-water acoustic communication channels and the impact of estimation performance on the equalization of phase coherent communication signals are investigated. Given sufficiently wide transmission bandwidth, the impulse response of the shallow-water acoustic channel is often sparse as the multipath arrivals become resolvable. In the presence of significant surface waves, the multipath arrivals associated with surface scattering fluctuate rapidly over time, in the sense that the complex gain, the arrival time, and the Dopplers of each arrival all change dynamically. A sparse channel estimation technique is developed based on the delay-Doppler-spread function representation of the channel. The delay-Doppler-spread function may be considered as a first-order approximation to the rapidly time-varying channel in which each channel component is associated with Doppler shifts that are assumed constant over an averaging interval. The sparse structure of the delay-Doppler-spread function is then exploited by sequentially choosing the dominant components that minimize a least squares error. The advantage of this approach is that it captures both the channel structure as well as its dynamics without the need of explicit dynamic channel modeling. As the symbols are populated with the sample Dopplers, the increase in complexity depends on the channel Doppler spread and can be significant for a severely Doppler-spread channel. Comparison is made between nonsparse recursive least squares (RLS) channel estimation, sparse channel impulse response estimation, and estimation using the proposed approach. The results are demonstrated using experimental data. In training mode, the proposed approach shows a 3-dB reduction in signal prediction error. In decision-directed mode, it improves significantly the robustness of the performance of the channel-estimate-based equalizer against rapid channel fluctuations.     

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.     

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     

ROC evaluation of adaptive beamforming in a simulated shallow waterenvironment

An optimal evaluation of adaptive beamforming techniques in a reverberation-limited shallow water environment is presented. A comprehensive simulation, using the sonar simulation toolset (SST) software in conjunction with the generic sonar model (GSRT) software, is used to create realistic beam data complete with target, noise, and reverberation. Adaptive beamforming techniques from the recursive least squares (RLS) family are applied to enhance detection performance via interference rejection. Two techniques are considered: linearly constrained beamforming using the minimum variance distortionless response (MVOR) beamformer and constrained adaptive noise cancelling (ANC) using the joint process least squares lattice (JPLSL) algorithm. Target detection trials, summarized in the form of receiver operator characteristics (ROC), are used to evaluate performance of the two adaptive beamformers. Results demonstrate mixed performance in reverberation-limited shallow water environments     

Multichannel processing of broad-band multiuser communicationsignals in shallow water acoustic channels

High-throughout multiple-access communication networks are being considered for use in underwater acoustic channels. Bandwidth limitations of underwater acoustic channels require receivers to process broad-band communications signals in the presence of several active users. To deal with the resulting multiple-access interference in addition to high intersymbol interference, the spatial variability of ocean multipath is exploited in a multichannel multiuser receiver. Two configurations of such a receiver, a centralized and a decentralized one, are presented in fully adaptive modes of operations. While greatly reducing intersymbol and multiple-access interference, spatial diversity implies high increase in adaptive multiuser receiver complexity. To reduce the complexity of the optimal multichannel combiner, spatial structure of multipath is exploited. The complexity of resulting adaptive decentralized multichannel multiuser receiver is reduced at almost no cost in performance. Comparison of proposed multichannel receivers in an experimental shallow water channel demonstrates superior performance of spatial signal combining. The use of multiple input channels is shown to provide high level of tolerance for the near-far effect in both centralized and decentralized receivers. Decentralized receiver with reduced-complexity combining is found to satisfy the performance/complexity trade-off required for practical receiver realization in shallow water networks     

Phase-coherent digital communications for underwater acousticchannels

High-speed phase coherent communications in the ocean channel are made difficult by the combined effects of large Doppler fluctuations and extended, time-varying multipath. In order to account for these effects, we consider a receiver which performs optimal phase synchronization and channel equalization jointly. Since the intersymbol interference in some underwater acoustic channels spans several tens of symbol intervals, making the optimal maximum-likelihood receiver unacceptably complex, we use a suboptimal, but low complexity, decision feedback equalizer. The mean squared error multiparameter optimization results in an adaptive algorithm which is a combination of recursive least squares and second-order digital phase and delay-locked loops. The use of a fractionally spaced equalizer eliminates the need for explicit symbol delay tracking. The proposed algorithm is applied to experimental data from three types of underwater acoustic channels: long-range deep water, long-range shallow water, and short-range shallow water channels. The modulation techniques used are 4- and 8-PSK. The results indicate the feasibility of achieving power-efficient communications in these channels and demonstrate the ability to coherently combine multiple arrivals, thus exploiting the diversity inherent in multipath propagation     

Two adaptive algorithms for multipath time delay estimation

The problem of time delay estimation (TDE) with multipath transmissions arises often in many sonar and radar systems. Two adaptive algorithms based on a parameter estimation approach are proposed to estimate the difference in arrival times of a signal at two separated sensors in the presence of multipath propagation. The first method uses an adaptive IIR filter to eliminate the multipath signal in each transmission channel prior to applying a constrained delay estimation algorithm to extract the time difference between the two received outputs. The second employs two constrained adaptive FIR filters to perform equalization of the multipath arrivals, and time delay is then derived using a constrained delay estimator similar to that in the first method. Computer simulations are presented to compare and contrast the tracing capability and convergence behavior of these multipath TDE methods     

Simulations of an adaptive equalizer applied to high-speed oceanacoustic data transmission'

Computer simulations are carried out to study the feasibility of an adaptive equalizer applied to an hydroacoustic data-transmission channel. The channel is examined with a comprehensive acoustical model to acquire worst-case examples of the ocean acoustic transmission channel. The equalizer performance is investigated by simulations with a computer-generated channel response. Equalizer behavior in a mobile time-variant environment is also studied by use of a simplified, time-discrete multipath channel model. A stochastic gradient lattice equalizer is simulated for a channel which varies due to movement of the transmitter platform. The equalizer was able to track a velocity of up to 0.4 m/s for a favorable transmission geometry, using a transmitter beamwidth of 10°. The results demonstrate the feasibility of coherent modulation schemes for medium-distance ocean acoustic telemetry. It was found that small beamwidths are imperative in maintaining signal coherence and in facilitating adaptive equalization. In particular, narrow-beam transducers will reduce equalizer complexity as well as the frequency spread     

Forward Scattering Observation With Partially Coherent Spatial Processing of Vertical Array Signals in Shallow Water

In this paper, we address the problem of detecting an inhomogeneity in shallow water by observing changes in the acoustic field as the inhomogeneity passes between an acoustic source and vertical line array of receivers. A signal processing scheme is developed to detect the perturbed field in the presence of the much stronger primary source signal, and to estimate such parameters as the time when the inhomogeneity crosses the source-receiver path, its velocity, and its size. The effectiveness of incoherent, coherent, and partially coherent spatial processing of the array signals is evaluated using models and data obtained from experiments in a lake. The effect of different bottom types is also considered, and it is shown that partially coherent processing can have a significant advantage depending on the bottom type. Estimates of the minimum input signal-to-noise ratios (SNRs) for which the diffracted signal can be observed are presented.     

A low sidelobe technique for the direct measurement of scatteringfunctions

Effective communication and echolocation depends strongly upon the coherence of the channel through which the signal is propagated. Under certain conditions, the average coherence or equivalently, the spreading of a random channel may be described by a scattering function (SF). This represents a second order (energy) measure of the average delay, Doppler, and more generally, the spatial (azimuthal) spread that the signal experiences. The SF is analogous to the point spread function (PSF) discussed in the image processing literature and likewise describes the amount of “blurring” imposed upon the signal or scene transmitted. The SF will be briefly reviewed and its measurement by both direct (high resolution channel probing) and indirect (deconvolution) methods will be discussed. A new direct method using specially designed waveform pairs and a twin or uncertainty product (UP) receiver structure is introduced. Unlike high resolution matched filter implementations for direct probing that are limited by the fixed volume constraint of ambiguity functions, the UP receiver produces vanishing sidelobes and hence more nearly approximates a desirable two-dimensional delta characteristic. The improvement gained in SF measurement is illustrated by the results of an experiment in which the UP receiver and traditional matched filter implementations were used to directly probe an ocean multipath channel     

Accurate Acoustic Signal Parameter Estimation for Marine Geodesy Surveys

Acoustic signal parameter estimation is important for diverse marine geodesy surveys and several other applications. However, the received signal from a far-field target characterized by planar wavefront propagation is frequently affected by strong nearby interfering signals. Their presence deteriorates the performance of direction-of-arrival (DOA) estimation for far-field target. In order to enhance the reception of signal from far-field target, the near-field/far-field (NFFF) beamformer is proposed. Such a beamformer optimizes beam pattern for far-field detection by maximizing beamformer output in the direction of the far-field target with the imposed condition to eliminate interfering signals generated in near-field locations. As the interference suppression only occurs at the position of near-field interference, a possible blind zone for far-field detection in conventional methods is not created. The NFFF beamformer is applicable for coherent signals and the scenario with multi interferences. For stationary situation where interferers locations are fixed, the NFFF beamformer computations do not require time updates with associated computational load. Furthermore the proposed method can be extended to several new situations such as acoustic monitoring performed from a stationary platform subjected to water currents, waves, winds and other variables, all of them generating nearby interferences and also to different array configurations including 2D and 3D arrays.     

水声信号时频分析方法比较及应用研究

浅海中的宽带水声信号传播呈现出频散的特点,通过高分辨率的时频分析方法可以刻画频散曲线。通过数值仿真和实验数据处理,对比分析几类常用的时频分析方法在提取宽带声信号频散曲线方面的性能。结果表明:STFT时频局部化精度不够高;在较强频散的情况下,DSTFT时频分辨率较高。WVD时频聚集性最好,但是有严重的交叉项干扰;固定核函数的CWD较好地抑制交叉项,时频分辨率虽优于STFT,但弱化了时频聚集性;AOK时频分布采用自适应高斯核函数,在抑制交叉项的同时,时频聚集性较好,有望较好地用于提取信号频散曲线。     

High-Rate Communication for Underwater Acoustic Channels Using Multiple Transmitters and Space–Time Coding: Receiver Structures and Experimental Results

In this paper, we consider the use of multiple antennas and space-time coding for high data rate underwater acoustic (UWA) communications. Recent advances in information theory have shown that significant capacity gains can be achieved by using multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO) systems and space-time coding techniques for rich scattering environments. This is especially significant for the UWA channel where the usable bandwidth is severely limited due to frequency-dependent attenuation. In this paper, we propose to use space-time coding and iterative decoding techniques to obtain high data rates and reliability over shallow-water, medium-range UWA channels. In particular, we propose to use space-time trellis codes (STTCs), layered space-time codes (LSTCs) and their combinations along with three low-complexity adaptive equalizer structures at the receiver. We consider multiband transmissions where the available bandwidth is divided into several subbands with guard bands in between them. We describe the theoretical basis of the proposed receivers along with a comprehensive set of experimental results obtained by processing data collected from real UWA communications experiments carried out in the Pacific Ocean. We demonstrate that by using space-time coding at the transmitter and sophisticated iterative processing at the receiver, we can obtain data rates and spectral efficiencies that are not possible with single transmitter systems at similar ranges and depths. In particular, we have demonstrated reliable transmission at a data rate of 48 kb/s in 23 kHz of bandwidth, and 12 kb/s in 3 kHz of bandwidth (a spectral efficiency of 4 bs^-1Hz^-1) at a 2-km range.     

A simulation tool for high data-rate acoustic communication in ashallow-water, time-varying channel

The paper discusses the development of a simulation tool to model high data-rate acoustic communication in shallow water. The simulation tool is able to generate synthetic time series of signals received at a transducer array after transmission across a shallow-water communication channel. The simulation tool is suitable for testing advanced signal processing techniques for message recovery. A channel model has been developed based on the physical aspects of the acoustic channel. Special emphasis has been given to fluctuations of the signal transmission caused by time-varying multipath effects. At shorter ranges, the temporal variations are dominated by acoustic scattering from the moving sea surface. Therefore, the channel model produces a coherence function which may be interpreted as a time-varying reflection coefficient for the surface scattered acoustical path. A static, range-independent ray model identifies the significant multipaths, and the surface path is modulated with the time-varying reflection coefficient. The advantages and limitations of the channel model are discussed and assumptions necessary to overcome the limitations are emphasised. Based on the assumptions, an algorithm has been developed and implemented to model how a binary message will be modulated when transmitted by a transducer, is distorted in the channel and finally is received by a transducer array     

Space-time processing, environmental-acoustic effects

The authors examine the subject of space-time processing and review fundamental environmental effects and their influence on arrays in the deep ocean sound channel. Space-time transforms are reviewed to demonstrate the analogy between spatial and temporal properties to stress the importance of convolution and matched field processing. A criterion is presented by which the resolution of such measurement systems could be calculated. The static source-receiver case is shown to be influenced by the randomness in signal phase due to scattering. Calculations and data are used to show the importance of multipath effects on the relative gain of line array measurement systems and the difficulties encountered for the determination of coherence lengths. Single path coherence lengths were found to be large and predictable using an environmental parameter and the Beran-McCoy mutual coherence functional form. However, multipath effects appeared to be dominant. The temporal fluctuation problem is briefly introduced to stress the fact that for relative source-receiver speeds of 1.5 m/s (3 knots) or greater, the fluctuations are dominated by the changes in the multipath arrivals     

A Variable-Rate Spread-Spectrum System for Underwater Acoustic Communications

A key research area in underwater acoustic (UWA) communication is the development of advanced modulation and detection schemes for improved performance and range-rate product. In this communication, we propose a variable-rate underwater data transmission system based on direct sequence spread spectrum (DSSS) and complementary code keying (CCK), particularly for shallow-water acoustic channels with severe multipath propagation. We provide a suboptimum receiver that consists of a bidirectional decision feedback equalizer (BiDFE) to cancel both postcursor and precursor intersymbol interference (ISI). We also develop iterative signal processing and time-reversal (TR) diversity processing to mitigate the effect of error propagation in BiDFE. We present performance analysis on bit error rate (BER) for different data rates. Our works show that this new variable-data-rate DSSS-CCK is a suitable candidate for UWA communications over varying channel conditions and distance.      

Passive-range estimation using dual focused beamformers

The passive-range estimation technique using a single focused beamformer has been studied under the sea. However, there are not many more methods in the case of closed multisource environments. In this paper, we propose the technique using dual focused beamformers to estimate the ranges of a closed multisource, and compare the proposed technique with the previous method. The proposed method is verified via computer simulation under the simplified multipath underwater channel model.     

Robust source localization in shallow water based on vector optimization

Owing to the multipath effect, the source localization in shallow water has been an area of active interest. However, most methods for source localization in shallow water are sensitive to the assumed model of the underwater environment and have poor robustness against the underwater channel uncertainty, which limit their further application in practical engineering. In this paper, a new method of source localization in shallow water, based on vector optimization concept, is described, which is highly robust against environmental factors affecting the localization, such as the channel depth, the bottom reflection coefficients, and so on. Through constructing the uncertainty set of the source vector errors and extracting the multi-path sound rays from the sea surface and bottom, the proposed method can accurately localize one or more sources in shallow water dominated by multipath propagation. It turns out that the natural formulation of our approach involves minimization of two quadratic functions subject to infinitely many nonconvex quadratic constraints. It shows that this problem (originally intractable) can be reformulated in a convex form as the so-called second-order cone program (SOCP) and solved efficiently by using the well-established interior point method, such as the software tool, SeDuMi. Computer simulations show better performance of the proposed method as compared with existing algorithms and establish a theoretical foundation for the practical engineering application.     

Acoustic telemetry system for underwater control

Underwater acoustic communication in the multipath environment encountered in shallow water is restricted mostly by signal fading. It degrades the signal detection and time synchronization required for reliable acoustic communication. An approach to time synchronization and to the frequency diversity method is presented. A communication algorithm for obtaining a reliable acoustic underwater link, and offering an easy-to-implement decoding scheme is introduced, and system realization is described     

Source localization in shallow water in the presence of sensorlocation uncertainty

The problem of source localization in shallow water in the presence of sensor location uncertainty is considered. The Cramer-Rao Bound is used to carry out a feasibility study for the joint source and sensor location problem when the multipath propagation channel is modeled as a known, deterministic waveguide. Unlike the free-space propagation channel, the boundedness of the shallow-water waveguide along its vertical axis provides the key to joint determination of the source and sensor location parameters. It is seen that, when a set of intuitive identifiability conditions are satisfied, numerical examples indicate that, for the scenarios considered, the resulting loss in accuracy with which the source location can be estimated due to sensor location uncertainty may be tolerable