Channel simulation for predicting acoustic modem performance.

Acoustic modems usually provide the link in modern Distributed Netted Systems. However, their performance is strongly affected by the ocean weather as both the propagation medium and the source of background noise. Understanding these effects is important in pre‐experiment planning, real‐time adaptation, and retrospection (to ensure appropriate lessons are learned for future deployments). To this end, we have developed a channel simulator called VirTEX (Virtual Timeseries Experiment) that includes Doppler effects due to platform and ocean surface dynamics. VirTEX, in turn, is a component of the AComms Advisor, which provides links to ocean forecasts and other environmental information and uses HIL (Hardware in the Loop) testing to include a faithful modem simulation. This talk will discuss the process, as well as progress, in the algorithms.