Development of a simple underwater acoustic channel simulator for analysis and prediction of horizontal data telemetry.

This study seeks to identify the various mechanisms affecting the performance of horizontal underwater acoustic communication. In order to better understand the impact of oceanographic parameters on acoustic transmission, a simple channel simulator was developed. This was based on the Bellhop propagation model, utilising Gaussian beam tracing. Using a simulated underwater environment and given parameters regarding transmitter and receiver locations, the impulse response was obtained and a subsequent prediction of a received signal was achieved. Using this model, FSK methods of underwater data telemetry were investigated for a variety of scenarios including both deep and shallow water. These predictions were also compared to signals obtained in the field for two different deployments. The results indicated the simulator works effectively to determine areas of more difficult reception for a given environment, despite predicting lower success rates than those found during the trials. It was concluded that additions to environmental data to provide a more realistic simulation may rectify this. In addition, further work in replicating the error correction of the modems will also provide more valuable information about the results observed by the end user. Overall, the simulations worked effectively in providing a simple but effective method of predicting the distortions observed by an acoustic modem receiver.