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Underwater wireless communication system

This article has been downloaded from IOPscience. Please scroll down to see the full text article. 2009 J. Phys.: Conf. Ser. 178 012029 (http://iopscience.iop.org/1742-6596/178/1/012029) View the table of contents for this issue, or go to the journal homepage for more

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Sensors & their Applications XV Journal of Physics: Conference Series 178 (2009) 012029

IOP Publishing doi:10.1088/1742-6596/178/1/012029

Underwater Wireless Communication System

J. H. Goh, A. Shaw, A. I. Al-Shammaa Liverpool John Moores University, General Engineering Research Institute (GERI), RF and Microwave Group, Byrom Street, Liverpool, L3 3AF, UK E-mail: j.h.goh@2006.ljmu.ac.uk
Abstract. Underwater communication has a range of applications including remotely operated vehicle (ROV) and autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) communication and docking in the offshore industry. Current underwater transmission techniques is primarily utilise sound waves for large distance at lower frequencies and the velocity of sound in water is approximately 1500m/s the resultant communications have problems with multi-path propagation and low bandwidth problems. The use of electromagnetic (EM) techniques underwater has largely been overlooked because of the attenuation due to the conductivity of seawater. However, for short range applications, the higher frequencies and much higher velocity can prove advantageous. This paper will outline a project which will utilise recent investigations that demonstrate EM wave propagation up to the MHz frequency range is possible in seawater.

1. Introduction The present technology for underwater communication involves either light or sound. Both of these techniques have their advantages and limitations. In optical systems which use lasers the light is rapidly attenuated in shallow water due to the backscatter and is therefore limited to very short distances. Acoustic techniques are the most widely used in water communications. The velocity of sound in water is approximately 1500m/s. They are severely affected by multi-path propagation [1] which is shown in Figure 1. The multi-path propagation in water is including reflection and refraction. Reflection of signals occurs at the ocean surface and at the ocean floor. Reflection is when the direction of the wave front is changed at an interface between two different mediums and the wave front returns into the original medium. Refraction occurs when a wave passes from one medium to another medium, and the direction of the wave is changed. This results in multiple propagation paths from the transmitter to the receiver as shown in Figure 1. d is the direct path, d1 and d 2 are possibly indirect paths. This means the signal following the d1 and d 2 paths arrive at different times and slightly after the direct path. This results in a pulse spreading. This pulse spreading limits the data rates of transmissions and can be a cause of higher error probability. As a result, a new method was introduced which is electromagnetic (EM) wave propagation. The high EM frequency at megahertz (MHz) is used to propagate in the water over short and long distances. The speed of an EM wave in vacuum is 3 10 8 m / s . The speed of an EM wave in water is affected by a factor r r , where r is the relative permittivity, and r is the relative permeability. The r for the water at the frequencies considered is approximately 81, r is 1, therefore, the speed of the EM wave in water is,

c 2009 IOP Publishing Ltd

Sensors & their Applications XV Journal of Physics: Conference Series 178 (2009) 012029

IOP Publishing doi:10.1088/1742-6596/178/1/012029

c water

cvacuum

r r

3 10 8 81 1

3.33 10 7 m / s
2
1
d1

d2

Figure 1: Multi-path Propagation in Water Maxwells equations [2,3] are used to predict EM wave propagation in water. The electric field strength x and the magnetic field strength y are presented for a linearly polarized plane wave propagating in the z direction in equations (1) and (2).

x = 0 e ( jt z )
y = 0 e ( jt z )
where is the angular frequency, given as,

(1) (2) (3) (4) (5)

= 2f

and is the propagation constant given as,

= + j

where is the attenuation constant, and is the phase constant, the phase constant is given as,

Although EM wave propagation is also affected by multi-path propagation, the higher attenuation will reduce these effects and the higher frequencies and faster velocity will enable higher data rates and bandwidth. 2. Modulation and Demodulation Modulation is a process of adding the information signal onto the carrier signal and must be accomplished cost effectively and accurately for maximum range and minimum interference [Lathi, 1998]. Demodulation is a process of removing the information signal from the carrier frequency (retranslate back the signal to its original position). 2.1. On-Off Keying (OOK) The amplitude of the carrier frequency is varied to represent binary 1 and 0 in OOK which is shown in Figure 2. The frequency and phase of the signal remain the same, only the amplitude is changes. The signal region (1 bit) which has voltage level (amplitude) is represent binary 1, and binary 0 is represented by no voltage. The advantage for the OOK is the amount of transmitted energy that required for transmit information is very low. The bit duration for the peak amplitude of the signal is always constant. 2.2. OOK Modulation The OOK signal can be generated by using an OOK modulator [4] which is shown in Figure 3. It consists of a multiplier which multiplies the square waveform and the carrier frequency to obtain an OOK signal. When an input signals binary 1 (represented by pulse) multiplies with the sine wave

Sensors & their Applications XV Journal of Physics: Conference Series 178 (2009) 012029

IOP Publishing doi:10.1088/1742-6596/178/1/012029

(carrier frequency) then it will results an analog signal which has voltage level (amplitude). When an input signals binary 0 (no pulse) multiplies with the sine wave (carrier frequency) then it will results an analog signal which no voltage.

Vm (t )

VOOK (t )

Vc cos( c t )

Figure 2: OOK Signal

Figure 3: Block Diagram of OOK Modulator

2.3. OOK Demodulation Figure 4 shows the block diagram of OOK demodulator [5]. It consists of a multiplier, a low-pass filter (LPF) and a comparator. The multiplier is use to multiplies the OOK signal and the local carrier frequency which same frequency as the transmitter. The higher frequency (sum-frequency) output of the multiplier is rejected by LPF, and the lower frequency (difference-frequency) output of the multiplier is passed through the LPF. The output of the LPF is then fed into the comparator to obtain the original digital signal Vm (t ) . The function of the comparator is to compare the voltage level (amplitude) and make a decision for that signal. If the voltage level is more than 0, then is binary 1, otherwise is binary 0.
VOOK (t )

V0 (t )

Vm (t )

Vc cos( c t )

Figure 4: Block Diagram of OOK Demodulator 3. Loop Antenna Loop antenna is the directional type antenna which has one or more complete turns of conductors [6]. The loop antenna has a very low radiation resistance because it acts as inductive component like a large inductor [7]. The advantages of the loop antenna is strongly responds to the magnetic field ( ) of the EM waves, and less affected by the man-made interference because it has strong electric field ( ). The loop antenna is also picks up less noise and provided better signal to noise ratio (SNR). The wavelength equation of the loop antenna is given as [8], (6) = d where is the diameter of the loop antenna. A double loop antenna with 32cm of diameter is used for the experiment which is shown in Figure 5. By theoretical, the wavelength of this antenna can be calculated by using the equation (6). This double loop antenna has two turns and the circumference is 2d , and it is half-wavelength antenna. Therefore,

= 2d = 4 (0.32) 4.02m
c = 3 10 8 75MHz 4.02

and the frequency of this antenna,

f =

If the antenna is in water, then the wavelength of this antenna was affected by a factor r r . Therefore, the wavelength in water can be calculated as,

Sensors & their Applications XV Journal of Physics: Conference Series 178 (2009) 012029

IOP Publishing doi:10.1088/1742-6596/178/1/012029

f =

r r

3 10 8 81 1 4.02

8MHz

Figure 5: Double Loop Antenna with 32cm of diameter 4. Experiment and Results Figure 6 shows the experiment setup for modulation and demodulation. A RF switch ZASWA-250DR is used to generate the OOK signal. The RF switch is used to select the on or off signal for two input frequencies. A +5V and -5V voltage is supplied to active the RF switch. The two output ports of the RF switch are used as input, and the input port of the RF switch is used as output. The direct digital synthesis (DDS) generator is used to generate the carrier frequency that represent binary 1, and the ground (no frequency) represent binary 0. The square wave generator is used to generate the square wave which used to control the switching of the RF switch. The output of the RF switch is a OOK signal and connected to the transmitter (Tx). The OOK signal is transmit by the transmitter (Tx), the signal is transmit from the Tx to receiver (Rx), and then Rx received the signal. A voltage controlled oscillator (VCO) ZOS-300+ is uses to generate a local carrier frequency which same frequency as the transmitter frequency; or more or less than the transmitter frequency. The frequency mixer ZX05-1MHW is uses to subtract the received signal (RF) from the local carrier frequency (LO); and provided the intermediate frequency (IF) as output of the frequency mixer. The output signal (intermediate frequency) of frequency mixer is connected to the power detector, follow by LPF and 50 terminator. The demodulated signal (output of the 50 terminator) is then displayed on oscilloscope. The square wave that generated from square wave generator is also connected to the oscilloscope as trigger function. The experiment for underwater transmission is take place in the large cylinder tank filled with 27000 litres of water which is shown in Figure 7a, and Figure 7b shows the dimension of the cylinder tank. The cylinder tank has a 3.4m diameter and a 2.35m height, the depth of the water was 1.85m. The gantry is attached on top of the cylinder tank in order to place the receiver (Rx) on top of it; the gantry has a 3.6m length and a 0.1m height. The steel rack was used to hold the transmitter and receiver when put both of it into the water. The receiver was mounted from a gantry on moveable support. The transmitter (Tx) was put into bottom of the tank. The Rx was placed vertically with the Tx in water. The distance between Rx and Tx, x = 1.41m . Both of the Tx and Rx are needed to test in order to know the best transmission frequency that can use in water. Figure 8 shows the received signal strength in water. From Figure 8, the higher power level for the received signal is -60.5dBm at 6MHz and -60.5dBm at 10MHz. Therefore, the 6 and 10 MHz are considered as the best transmission frequency in water. Figure 9 shows the amplitude of the received signal for 6 MHz and 10.7 MHz as a function of horizontal distance in water for the experiment. The vertical distance between the Tx and Rx is 1.4m. 6 MHz and 10.7 MHz were used because these two frequencies were the best for the double loop antenna. The start position at 0cm represents the position of the transmitter (Tx). From Figure 9, the received signal strength for 6MHz decreases as Rx moved away from Tx, and the received signal strength is begins to increase at 130cm because Rx also received the reflected signal from the metal

Sensors & their Applications XV Journal of Physics: Conference Series 178 (2009) 012029

IOP Publishing doi:10.1088/1742-6596/178/1/012029

tank. At 10.7MHz, the signal strength also falls with distance bur begins to increase beyond 170cm for the same reason. Based on Figure 9, it can be conclude that the 6MHz frequency can provide a higher receive power level compare to the 10.7MHz frequency, but 10.7MHz can transmit longer distances in water compared to 6 MHz. Figure 10 shows the voltage level transition of the OOK modulated signal for 6 MHz and 10.7 MHz in water. The highest voltage level transition for 6MHz frequency is 450mV at the near field (0 and 10cm), and the lowest voltage level transition is 70mV at the far field (110 to 140cm). The transition levels lower than 150mV are considered very small and are difficult to detect and demodulate. Therefore, the maximum transmission distance for 6MHz in the water is 90cm. The highest voltage level transition for 10.7MHz is 250mV at the near field (0 to 20cm), and lowest voltage level transition is 58mV at the far field (170cm). Therefore, the maximum distance for 10.7MHz frequency to transmit in water is 130cm with a transition voltage of 160mV .

Figure 6: Experiment Setup for Modulation and Demodulation

Figure 7a: Water Tank filled with 27000 litres of water

Figure 7b: Experiment Setup for Underwater Transmission in Water Tank

5. Conclusion In this paper, it proved the propagation of EM waves at high frequency in the water is possible. Underwater communications by using the EM wave propagation method has a bright future and very useful for many applications. Propagation of EM waves in water is affected by parameters including permittivity ( ) , conductivity ( ) . Although the EM wave propagation has high attenuation in the near field it has been shown that a far field region exists that would allow transmission over longer

Sensors & their Applications XV Journal of Physics: Conference Series 178 (2009) 012029

IOP Publishing doi:10.1088/1742-6596/178/1/012029

distance than previously thought. The advantages of the EM wave are low power, potentially covert, useful bandwidth for many applications such as compress video, radar, data telemetry and useful Range.
-60 Received Signal Strength (dBm) -65 -70 -75 -80 -85 -90 -95 -100 4 6 8 10 12 14 DDS Frequency (MHz) 16 18 20

Figure 8: Received Signal Strength for Different DDS Frequency in Water

-60 Received Signal Strength (dBm)
450

6 MHz 10.7 MHz

-65
Voltage Transition (mV)

400 350 300 250 200 150 100

6 MHz 10.7 MHz

-70

-75

-80

-85 -40 -20 0 20 40 60 80 100 120 140 160 180 200 Distance (cm)

50 -40 -20 0 20 40 60 80 100 120 140 160 180 200 Distance (cm)

Figure 9: Received Signal Strength for 6 MHz and 10.7 MHz versus Horizontal Distance in Water

Figure 10: Voltage Level Transition of the OOK modulated signal for 6 MHz and 10.7 MHz Water

References [1] Ahmed I. Al-Shammaa, Andrew Shaw and Saher Saman, Propagation of Electromagnetic Waves at MHz Frequencies Through Seawater, IEEE Transactions on Antenna and Propagation, Vol. 52, No. 11, November 2004, pp. 2843-2849 [2] John D. Kraus, Electromagnetics, 4th Edition, McGraw-Hill International Editions, 1992 [3] David H. Staelin, Ann W. Morgenthaler and Jin Au Kong, Electromagnetic Waves, Prentice Hall International, Inc, 1994 [4] Ifiok Otung, Communication Engineering Principles, Palgrave, 1998 [5] Alberto Leon-Garcia and Indra Widjaja, Communication Networks: Fundamental Concepts and Key Architecture, McGraw-Hill International Editions, 2006 [6] Constantine A. Balanis, Antenna Theory: Analysis and Design, 3rd Edition, John Wiley & Sons, Inc, 2005 [7] Joseph Carr, Antenna Toolkit, 2nd Edition, Newnes, 2001 [8] John D. Kraus and Ronald J. Marhefka, Antennas For All Applications, McGraw-Hill International Editions, 2002