Acoustic transmission of images using a microprocessor-based video bandwidth reduction technique

The problems associated with the acoustic transmission of real-time television pictures are considered in this paper. A solution to the high data rate video source is found in the application of a spatial data redundancy reduction algorithm, Micro Adaptive Picture Sequencing (MAPS). This algorithm has been implemented on two commercially available microprocessors (M68000), which operate on a digitized image to produce a coded image which is transmitted and reconstructed. Using the spatial data reduction algorithm it is possible to transmit 1 to 2 frames per second of a96 times 96 pixel times 4bits gray level image over a 9600 baud link. Although these images do not possess the full dynamic range and resolution of home quality video, this work suggests that the acoustic channel could be utilized for control of an unmanned untethered submersible. Also, the transmission of high resolution information is made practical when some data reductions are performed prior to acoustic transmission.