Methods and Algorithms for Reliable, User Friendly, High Speed and Low Latency Underwater Optical Wireless Communication and Localization

Technology    

This invention allows for remote operation of the vehicle with high bandwidth transmission and low latency. This invention specifically  discloses a method that allows for high bandwidth and low latency transmission of data in noisy underwater environments. In trials, high quality video was delivered with 98 % success rate at 25 yards and within acceptable quality at 40 yards. Latencies  were measured around 100 milliseconds, thus enabling  telemetry between the UUV and its sensors.  

Problem Addressed     

About 70% of the earth is covered in water yet most of the ocean remains unexplored. Currently ocean exploration relies on tethered vehicles to transmit high bandwidth data which restricts mobility and limits the depth that the vehicle can explore. Acoustic communication enables researchers to transmit data wirelessly, but it is limited by low bandwidth and high latency due to the speed of sound. The use of acoustic communication to transmit high quality video over a significant distance is currently not available.  

Advantages   

• Allows for remote operation of UUVs
• Allows for vehicle operation without a tether 
• Allows for high bandwidth transmission of video with low latency 

Publications

"Autonomous, Localization-Free Underwater Data Muling Using Acoustic and Optical Communication." In Proceedings of the 2012 International Symposium on Experimental Robotics (ISER 2012), June 2012.

"An End-to-End Signal Strength Model for Underwater Optical Communication." Journal of Ocean Engineering, 2012.

"Using Optical Communication for Remote Underwater Robot Operation." In Proceedings of the 2010 IEEE International Conference on Intelligent Robots and Systems (IROS 2010), October 2010.