High bandwidth covert underwater acoustic communications

海洋领域内的需求要求更多地使用自主资产进行搜索、调查、检查和执行任务。要使这些资产有效合作，就需要通过水上通信。水声通信已经建立得很好，从10-50千赫的声波传播到几公里远的距离，尽管数据率很低。高频声波传输(例如100 kHz-1 MHz)由于信号衰减快，噪声环境相对可预测和良性(以热噪声为主)，有望在短距离内进行隐蔽通信。它将开发隐蔽的短程通信能力，使多个资产能够在复杂和动态的水下环境中合作，而不会进行反探测；这将使自治资产小组能够在更快的时间内搜索或勘测区域。将建立对高频声波在水中的传播特性的理解。这将为开发新的水下机器人网络通信技术奠定基础。该项目与信息和通信技术主题最为紧密地结合在一起。该博士生项目由泰利斯英国提供部分资金和支持。

Demand within the maritime domain calls for increased use of autonomous assets for search, survey, inspection and undertaking tasks. For these assets to cooperate in an effective manner, through water communications is needed. Underwater acoustic communication is well established, with acoustic waves from 10 - 50 kHz propagating up to several kilometres in distance, albeit at low data rates. High frequency acoustic wave transmission (e.g. 100 kHz - 1 MHz) has promise for covert communication over a short range, since signal attenuation is rapid and the noise environment is relatively predictable and benign (dominated by thermal noise).The purpose of this PhD is to investigate the feasibility of using high frequency acoustic waves for underwater acoustic communication. It will develop covert short range communication capability that enables multiple assets to cooperate in the complex and dynamic underwater environment without counter-detection; this will allow squads of autonomous assets to search or survey areas in faster time. An understanding of the propagation characteristics of high frequency acoustic waves through water will be established. This will form the basis of the development of new communication techniques for networks of underwater vehicles. The project is most closely aligned with the Information and Communication Technologies theme.This PhD studentship is partly funded and supported by Thales UK.