High-Bandwidth Underwater Wireless Communication Using a Swarm of Autonomous Underwater Vehicles

Abstract We present a new method for underwater wireless communication with high bandwidth and over long distance. A swarm of Autonomous Underwater Vehicles (AUVs) is used to relay an optical signal between two points at any distance. Each vehicle is equipped with multiple attitude stabilization systems to reach the required pointing and tracking accuracy for optical communication. This technology would enable fast and efficient underwater exploration which is highly needed as only 5% of the world’s oceans have been explored so far. We carried out an experimental proof of concept to show that it is possible to relay an optical signal underwater between two points using a swarm of AUVs. The experiment took place in a 2m deep water tank. We modified and controlled two submarine models to reflect the laser beam stemming from a laser pointer at the bottom of the tank to the desired location. To know their positions, we developed an image processing technique which required the setup of a RF communication link at 315Mhz between the computers processing the camera’s videos and the units.

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Optimization of a Swarm of Autonomous Underwater Vehicles for High-Bandwidth Underwater Wireless Communication

Volume 7B: Ocean Engineering ◽

10.1115/omae2019-96285 ◽

2019 ◽

Author(s):

Alexandre Immas ◽

Mohammad-Reza Alam

Keyword(s):

Wireless Communication ◽

Autonomous Underwater Vehicles ◽

Underwater Vehicles ◽

Optical Signal ◽

Ocean Current ◽

Communication Link ◽

Long Distance ◽

Second Order Cone ◽

High Bandwidth ◽

Underwater Wireless Communication

Abstract High-bandwidth underwater wireless communication can be achieved over long-distance using a swarm of Autonomous Underwater Vehicles (AUVs) relaying an optical signal. The swarm behavior is of critical importance as it will determine the robustness and the autonomy of the communication link. Each vehicle must remain at a distance lower than the optical communication system range from each other while fighting against environmental disturbances such as ocean current. This technology could be a game changer in the deployment and supervision of future oil wells and of deep sea mining which will be deeper and deeper in the oceans. We developed an optimization program to maximize the communication link autonomy while assuring its robustness. The nonlinear optimization problem is transformed to a Second-Order Cone Problem (SOCP), a special case of convex problems that can be efficiently solved with Yalmip on Matlab. We show on two case studies that the autonomy of the swarm and thus the lifetime of the communication link is increased by more than 10% compared to a direct approach where the reference position of the vehicles is fixed.

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Wireless Remote Control for Underwater Vehicles

Journal of Marine Science and Engineering ◽

10.3390/jmse8100736 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 8 (10) ◽

pp. 736

Author(s):

Filippo Campagnaro ◽

Alberto Signori ◽

Michele Zorzi

Keyword(s):

Autonomous Underwater Vehicles ◽

Underwater Vehicles ◽

Communication Link ◽

Strong Impact ◽

Underwater Sensor Networks ◽

Navigation Systems ◽

Underwater Communication ◽

Commercial Off The Shelf ◽

The Stability ◽

New Applications

Nowadays, the increasing availability of commercial off-the-shelf underwater acoustic and non-acoustic (e.g., optical and electromagnetic) modems that can be employed for both short-range broadband and long-range low-rate communication, the increasing level of autonomy of underwater vehicles, and the refinement of their underwater navigation systems pave the way for several new applications, such as data muling from underwater sensor networks and the transmission of real-time video streams underwater. In addition, these new developments inspired many companies to start designing hybrid wireless-driven underwater vehicles specifically tailored for off-shore operations and that are able to behave either as remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) or as autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs), depending on both the type of mission they are required to perform and the limitations imposed by underwater communication channels. In this paper, we evaluate the actual quality of service (QoS) achievable with an underwater wireless-piloted vehicle, addressing the realistic aspects found in the underwater domain, first reviewing the current state-of-the-art of communication technologies and then proposing the list of application streams needed for control of the underwater vehicle, grouping them in different working modes according to the level of autonomy required by the off-shore mission. The proposed system is finally evaluated by employing the DESERT Underwater simulation framework by specifically analyzing the QoS that can be provided to each application stream when using a multimodal underwater communication system specifically designed to support different traffic-based QoSs. Both the analysis and the results show that changes in the underwater environment have a strong impact on the range and on the stability of the communication link.

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Securing Underwater Wireless Communication Networks

International Journal of Engineering & Technology ◽

10.14419/ijet.v7i2.23.15344 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 7 (2.23) ◽

pp. 505

Author(s):

D Naresh Kumar ◽

. .

Keyword(s):

Wireless Communication ◽

Data Sharing ◽

Communication Networks ◽

Data Transmission ◽

Underwater Vehicles ◽

Wireless Communication Networks ◽

Sensor Systems ◽

Security Testing ◽

Underwater Acoustic ◽

Underwater Wireless Communication

Underwater remote correspondence systems (UWCNs) are especially defenseless against vindictive assaults because of the high piece blunder rates, huge and variable proliferation deferrals, and low data transmission of acoustic channels. The special attributes of the Underwater acoustic correspondence channel and the contrasts between Underwater sensor systems and their ground-based partners require the improvement of productive and solid security instruments. In this class, an entire review of security for UWCNs is exhibited, and the exploration challenge for secure correspondence in this condition is sketched out.UWCNs incorporate sensors and self-ruling Underwater vehicles (AUVs) that collaborate to perform particular applications, for example, Underwater observing. Coordination and data sharing amongst sensors and AUVs make the arrangement of security testing.

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Development of an Image Processing Module for Autonomous Underwater Vehicles through Integration of Visual Recognition with Stereoscopic Image Reconstruction

Journal of Marine Science and Engineering ◽

10.3390/jmse7040107 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 7 (4) ◽

pp. 107 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Yu-Hsien Lin ◽

Shao-Yu Chen ◽

Chia-Hung Tsou

Keyword(s):

Image Processing ◽

Visual Recognition ◽

Fuzzy Controller ◽

Dynamic Testing ◽

Autonomous Underwater Vehicles ◽

Processing System ◽

Underwater Vehicles ◽

Water Tank ◽

Stereoscopic Imaging ◽

Harris Corner

This study investigated the development of visual recognition and stereoscopic imaging technology, applying them to the construction of an image processing system for autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs). For the proposed visual recognition technology, a Hough transform was combined with an optical flow algorithm to detect the linear features and movement speeds of dynamic images; the proposed stereoscopic imaging technique employed a Harris corner detector to estimate the distance of the target. A physical AUV was constructed with a wide-angle lens camera and a binocular vision device mounted on the bow to provide image input. Subsequently, a simulation environment was established in Simscape Multibody and used to control the post-driver system of the stern, which contained horizontal and vertical rudder planes as well as the propeller. In static testing at National Cheng Kung University, physical targets were placed in a stability water tank; the study compared the analysis results obtained from various brightness and turbidity conditions in out-of-water and underwater environments. Finally, the dynamic testing results were combined with a fuzzy controller to output the real-time responses of the vehicle regarding the angles, rates of the rudder planes, and the propeller revolution speeds at various distances.

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Accurate Characterization of Raindrop Size on the Performance of Optical Wireless Communication Links

Applied Mechanics and Materials ◽

10.4028/www.scientific.net/amm.666.317 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 666 ◽

pp. 317-321

Author(s):

Stephen Kotiang ◽

Jae Ho Choi

Keyword(s):

Wireless Communication ◽

Communication Systems ◽

Rain Attenuation ◽

Optical Signal ◽

Accurate Estimation ◽

Communication Link ◽

Optical Wireless Communication ◽

Optical Wireless ◽

Optical Extinction ◽

Raindrop Size

Rain attenuation is one of the impairments on the performance of optical wireless communication systems, and an accurate estimation of optical extinction coefficient due to rain in an area is an important factor for setting up a reliable communication link. In this paper, a relationship between optical signal attenuation and rain intensity is derived based on the moment of method of raindrop size distribution using a three-parameter gamma model. Finally, analyticalresultsarecompared to those ofthe ITU-R model.

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Towards Software Based Optical Communication Methods for the Assistance of Docking Autonomous Underwater Vehicles

Electronics ◽

10.3390/electronics9040655 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 9 (4) ◽

pp. 655

Author(s):

Josef Grindley ◽

Owen McAree ◽

Muhammad Ateeq ◽

Badr Abdullah ◽

Frederic Bezombes

Keyword(s):

Optical Communications ◽

Light Emitting Diode ◽

Autonomous Underwater Vehicles ◽

Underwater Vehicles ◽

Optical Signal ◽

Range Data ◽

Underwater Robotics ◽

Real World Data ◽

Test Environment ◽

Receiver Model

The use of optical communications systems is prevalent in underwater robotics when short-range data transmission is required or preferred. This paper proposes a method of producing and testing an optical communications system for use in the assistance of optical docking for autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs). It describes how the Simulink modelling environment was used to program and simulate a model of a transmitter, which was then implemented on a microcontroller. The transmitter model implemented on hardware was then used to produce an optical signal, which was sampled, logged and used to design a receiver model in Simulink. For signalling purposes, the experiment used a light-emitting diode (LED) with a driver circuit and photodiode based receiver. This simulated approach using real world data enabled the analysis of the system at every point during the process, allowing for a hardware in the loop style approach to be used in the receiver model design. Consequently, the Simulink Coder was used to produce the receiver model’s equivalent in C++ for later deployment. A benchmark was determined through experimentation to compare within future studies; the system was tested and found to operate effectively at distances between 1 m and 12 m in a controlled in air test environment.

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Experimental and Numerical Study on Propulsive Performance of AUV

29th International Conference on Ocean, Offshore and Arctic Engineering: Volume 3 ◽

10.1115/omae2010-20498 ◽

2010 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Hiroyoshi Suzuki ◽

Tomoya Inoue ◽

Yoshitaka Watanabe ◽

Hiroshi Yoshida ◽

Risa Kitamoto ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Numerical Study ◽

Autonomous Underwater Vehicles ◽

Underwater Vehicles ◽

Long Distance ◽

Hull Form ◽

Océanographic Survey ◽

Resistance Performance ◽

Resistance Form ◽

The Relationship ◽

Mass Form

Recently, several underwater vehicles (UVs) including autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) and remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) have been developed. The purpose that such UVs are applied is various and the required performance for the UVs are also various. For example, they are oceanographic survey with long-distance cruising, plankton investigatory with high maneuverability and so on. Therefore, suitable UV for the mission is should be designed. In the above examples, UV that has the low resistance form is suitable for long-distance cruising; UV with low added mass form is suitable for plankton investigatory. Form the above viewpoint; we began working on a project to improve the UV’s hull form. Firstly, we focus on the resistance performance of UV within the resistance performance and maneuverability of UV. Using experimental and numerical methods, the relationship between the resistance performance and the UV’s hull form are investigated. In this paper, the part of the above results is introduced.

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Fuel Cells for Autonomous Underwater Vehicles

Solid State Phenomena ◽

10.4028/www.scientific.net/ssp.198.84 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 198 ◽

pp. 84-89 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Grzegorz Grzeczka ◽

Adam Polak

Keyword(s):

Fuel Cells ◽

Autonomous Underwater Vehicles ◽

Electrical Energy ◽

Direct Conversion ◽

Underwater Vehicles ◽

Rechargeable Batteries ◽

Mobile Platforms ◽

Long Distance ◽

Significant Parameter ◽

Electrochemical Devices

A long-distance performance is a significant parameter for mobile platforms. A key condition is a highly efficient source of energy. Fuel cells, i.e. electrochemical devices, capable of direct conversion of chemical energy accumulated in fuel into electrical energy, occurred to be relevant. In this paper there were presented the results of the analysis pertaining to the volumetric requirements of the system exploiting the fuel cell that is capable of ensuring the running time comparable with that of conventionally used rechargeable batteries.

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