Efficient sensors for underwater communications

世界已经习惯了可靠、高速和无处不在的通信。无论是通过物理连接还是基于无线电的系统(例如WiFi和蓝牙)，我们都理所当然地认为人们以及越来越多的自主设备具有沟通的能力。然而，海洋中的远程通信更具挑战性，特别是在高数据传输速率下。但这种能力有利于越来越多的海洋活动，包括国防和安全能力、废物管理、安全、环境和污染监测，以及包括管道远程维护、石油和天然气基础设施退役和水产养殖在内的商业工作。海底通信非常具有挑战性，普通无线电解决方案不可行(功耗、射程和数据传输率不利)。声纳系统--在水中传输声波--具有很好的射程，但只支持较低的数据速率。因此，例如，不可能使用声纳为视频馈送传输足够的数据。相比之下，光通信--通过水传输光--可以实现极高的数据速率。例如，世界上第一个从潜水器到全球观众的多摄像机实时流是在2019年使用Sonardyne Ltd.‘S蓝通technology.https://www.sonardyne.com/worlds-first-live-video-broadcast-from-underwater-uses-sonardynes-bluecomm/实现的。然而，海底光通信的范围非常有限。一个主要问题是杂散光，它会干扰在海水中传输的最佳波长(颜色)的光通信。在更远的距离上，通信信号被杂散光淹没，因此通信系统的有效范围可能会因照明条件(深度、时间、人造光源)而有很大的不同。我们的提议旨在进一步开发一种新型光传感器，最初受到粒子物理探测器技术的启发，并作为粒子物理和沃里克表面科学研究小组的合作而开发。该传感器的一个独特特性是，它可以使其对典型海底环境中的杂散光(潜水器和潜水员的灯光，以及接近水面的阳光甚至月光)完全不敏感，而不需要效率低下的滤光片。这种传感器可能会成为下一代先进的海底光通信系统的重要组成部分。该系统将使远程海底运载器、海洋传感器站和其他海底基础设施之间能够进行更高效、更远距离的高速通信。

The world has become accustomed to reliable, high-speed and ubiquitous communication. Whether through physical connections or radio-based systems (e.g. WiFi and Bluetooth) we take for granted the ability for people and, increasingly, autonomous devices to communicate. However, ranged communication in the ocean is much more challenging, especially at high data transfer rates. But this capability is beneficial for an increasing range of ocean-based activities including defence and security capabilities, waste management, safety, environmental and pollution monitoring, and commercial work including remote maintenance of pipelines, decommissioning of oil and gas infrastructure, and aquaculture.Sub-sea communication is very challenging, with ordinary radio solutions not feasible (power consumption, range and data transfer rate are unfavourable). Sonar systems - transmitting sound waves through water - have excellent range but only support slow data rates. So, for example, it is not possible to transmit enough data for a video feed using sonar. By contrast, optical communication - transmitting light through water - can achieve extremely high data rates. For example, the world's first live stream of multiple cameras from a submersible to a global audience was achieved in 2019 using Sonardyne Ltd.'s BlueComm technology.https://www.sonardyne.com/worlds-first-live-video-broadcast-from-underwater-uses-sonardynes-bluecomm/ However, the range of sub-sea optical communication is very limited. A major problem is stray light, which can interfere with optical communications at the optimum wavelengths (colours) for transmission through sea water. At longer ranges the communication signal is swamped by the stray light, and so the effective range of the communications system can vary drastically depending on lighting conditions (depth, time of day, artificial light sources). Our proposal aims to further develop a new type of light sensor, originally inspired by particle physics detector technology and developed as a collaboration between particle physics and surface science research groups in Warwick. A unique property of the sensor is that it can be made totally insensitive to the stray light found in typical sub-sea environments (submersible vehicles' and divers' lights and, near the surface, sunlight or even moonlight) without needing inefficient optical filters. This sensor could form a vital part of the next generation of an advanced optical sub-sea communications system. The system will enable more efficient and longer-range high-speed communications between remote undersea vehicles, ocean sensor stations and other sub-sea infrastructure.