Simulation and Evaluation of an Optical Channel Model for Underwater Communication

Underwater communication gains increasing importance with rising need for autonomous underwater vehicles (AUV) and underwater infrastructure. Many applications require only a short range link up to a few meters, but high data rates up to several megabit per second. Optical communication is a promising solution for these applications. However, the performance of underwater optical communication is highly dependent on water conditions. Previous implementations rarely provide theoretical background on design decisions and rely on experimental results to verify range and data rates. We propose a model that enables an evaluation of range and signal strength dependent on the most important components of seawater. Furthermore, we implement a prototype based on simulation results and validate the model with measurement data.