Feature

Underwater wireless communications links have

almost exclusively been implemented using acoustic
systems. Optical links have proved impractical for many
applications. Although underwater radio links were
experimentally evaluated in the pioneering days of
radio, they did not meet the requirements of the time.
Given modern operational requirements and digital
communications technology, the time is now ripe for
re-evaluating the role of electromagnetic signals in the By Mark Rhodes, engineering
manager, Wireless Fibre Systems Ltd,
underwater environment. UK

Underwater Electromagnetic
Propagation
Re-evaluating Wireless Capabilities

of service in the underwater with the benefits of short-range, high-

Background
environment. In fact, the Extremely bandwidth communications systems
Underwater electromagnetic com- Low Frequency (ELF) submarine such as Bluetooth. At the same time,
munications have been investigated communications system is believed to the oil industry and military oper-
since the very early days of radio, and be the only successfully deployed tions have changing requirements
again received considerable attention subsea electromagnetic application. that have created demand for reliable,
during the 1970s. Then terrestrial This system operated at 76Hz for the connector-less short-range data links.
radio typically delivered manual digital US system and 82Hz in the Russian An initial investigation revealed that
communications (Morse code) or full system and allowed transmission of electromagnetic signalling, coupled
bandwidth analogue voice communi- a few characters per minute across with digital technology and signal-
cations over long range, and research the globe. It implemented a one way compression techniques, had many
was aimed at delivering these types `bell ring' to call an individual submar- advantages that made it suitable for
ine to the surface niche underwater applications.
for higher band-
width communica-
Theory
tions using terres-
trial radio. Through Electromagnetic propagation through
water,full-bandwidth, water is very different from propaga-
long-range, analogue tion through air because of water's
voice communica- high permittivity and electrical con-
tions were found to ductivity. Plane wave attenuation is
be impractical and high compared to air, and increases
there rapidly devel- rapidly with frequency. With a relative
oped a ‘perceived permittivity of 80, water has among
wisdom’ that elec- the highest permittivity of any mater-
tromagnetic signals ial and this has a significant impact
had no applications on the angle of refraction at the air/
in the underwater water interface.
environment.
Conductivity of seawater is typically
around 4S/m, while nominally `fresh'
Electromagnetic
water conductivity is quite variable
In the digital era we but typically in the mS/m range. At-
have become familiar tenuation of em signals is much lower
Figure 1: EM signals can pass through the water/air interface.

28 – December 2006 Hydro INTERNATIONAL


in fresh water than in seawater, but
fresh water has a similar permittivity.
Relative permeability is approximately
1, so there is little direct effect on
the magnetic field component. Loss
is largely due to the effect of conduc-
tion on the electric field component.
Propagating waves continually cycle
energy between the electric and mag-
netic fields; hence conduction leads
to strong attenuation of electromag-
netic propagating waves.
Above 10kHz, electromagnetic propa-
gation is more than a hundred times
faster than acoustic. This has import-
ant advantages for command latency
and networking protocols, where
many signals have to be exchanged.
Doppler shift is inversely proportion-
al to propagation velocity, so is much
smaller for electromagnetic signals.
Another important consideration
the effect of the air to water inter-
face. Propagation losses and the
refraction angle are such that
electromagnetic signal crosses the
air-to-water boundary and appears
to radiate from a patch of water
directly above the transmitter. The
large refraction angle produced by
the high permittivity launches a sig-
nal almost parallel with the water
surface. This effect aids communi-
cation from a submerged station to
land and between shallow submerged
stations without the need for surface
repeater buoys.
The air path can be a key advantage.
For example, if two divers are 1km
apart at 2m below the surface, at-
tenuation will be significantly less than
anticipated from the 1km through-
water loss. In comparison, acoustic
signals cannot cross the water-to-air
boundary, so 1km through-water loss
would apply. A similar effect is seen
at the seabed, where conductivity is
much lower than the water. The sea-
bed is an alternative low-loss, low-
noise, covert communications path.
Figure 2 illustrates the propagation
paths that can be exploited for com-
munications. In many deployments a
single propagation path will be domin-
ant.
Submarine ELF systems use line
antennas trailed by the vessel while
submerged, but this system imple-
ments `receive' only at the sub-
Hydro INTERNATIONAL
Feature
Figure 2: Electromagnetic propagation paths.
merged node. Magnetic coupled loop cable can provide short-range naviga-
antennas are the most compact prac- tion and reduces the range required
tical solution for duplex submerged for mobile communications. This
systems. Loop antennas are direc- arrangement allows implementation
tional in nature and this property can of a `tram-line' that can be tracked by
be exploited to allow selection of a UUV while allowing periodic excur-
is single propagation path. Alternatively, sions. A continuous tram-line is easily
omni-directional antennas can be intercepted on the UUV's return.
implemented by crossing two loops
an so that their planes intersect at right Table 1 summarises realisable range
angles. and bit rate for compact, low-power
underwater communications systems.
Lower attenuation allows greater
Applications
bandwidth in fresh water for all but the
Underwater electromagnetic signals 10Mb/s system, where hardware
have a range of practical applications considerations dominate.
in navigation, sensing and communica-
tions. Short-range navigation systems Bandwidth only exceeds that possible
can be based on the signal magnitude using acoustics at very short range.
gradient seen in electromagnetic In most applications it is the unique
propagation. For beacon applications, propagation mechanism that delivers a
sonar systems must use phase infor- host of niche advantages to comple-
mation to sense wave-front direction, ment the use of existing underwater
and suffer from multi-path effects and systems.
pressure gradients. UUV navigation
systems based on electromagnetic
Advantages
signals will measure increased sig-
nal strength as a direct response to The following are the niche advan-
movement towards a beacon, which tages of electromagnetic signalling
will enable a very simple, robust con- when applied to navigation, sensing
trol loop. Distributed cables can be and communications systems:
designed to radiate an electromag- - crosses water-to-air boundary; long-
netic signal along their length. This range horizontal communication
type of distributed transducer has no using air path, water to air or land
equivalent in the acoustic domain. A without surface repeater
Table 1: Predicted data rates for example ranges.
December 2006 - 29
 Feature

ed in the following suggested appli-

cations that exploit the strengths of
this technology:
- real-time control of UUVs from
shore, submarines and surface ves-
sels
- wireless through-hull transfer of
power and data
- high-speed transfer of data between
UUVs and surface vessels
- real-time transfer of sensor data
from UUVs when submerged
- communications between UUVs and
subsea sensors
- UUV distributed navigation systems
for shallow harbours and ports
- UUV docking systems
Figure 3: UUV navigation using distributed transducer cable
- subsea navigation beacons; asset
location, asset protection
- unaffected by pressure gradient; avoids marine fouling, particulates - subsea networks
allows horizontal propagation and alignment issues seen in laser- - data transmission from underwater
- broadband, frequency agile capabil- based systems sensors to surface or shore without
ity; no mechanical tuned parts, as in - high propagation speed; low Dop- surface repeaters
an acoustic system pler shift, low propagation delay, - harvest data from submerged sen-
- multi-path less of an issue, due to especially important for networking sors via Unmanned Airborne Vehi-
higher attenuation and smaller protocols requiring multiple exchan- cles
reflections from the surface and ges of information for handshake - communications; UUV to UUV, sub-
seabed and error checking marine to UUV, UUV to Unmanned
- distributed transducers; radiating - compact, portable units; small anten- Surface Vehicle, UUV to Unmanned
cables can deliver unique navigation nas deliver acceptable performance Airborne Vehicles
and communications functions - unaffected by low visibility; sediment - diver communications (speech and
- immune to marine fouling which disturbed at seabed has no opera- texting)
makes long-term deployment of tional effect, while laser systems fail - underwater navigation
optical systems impractical to operate - underwater sensing.
- high joules per bit efficiency; for - immune to aerated water; oper-
short-range, high-bandwidth appli- ation in surf zone, communication
Development
cations high bit rate results in short through cavitating propeller wash,
transfer times, so the system can be communication at speed Wireless Fibre Systems (WFS) has
very efficient in terms of joules per - covert localised communications; been exploring this area of techno-
bit, extending deployment times for using high-frequency carrier for logy for over two years, in collabora-
battery-operated equipment high attenuation, also close spatial tion with a number of government
- immune to acoustic noise; operation frequency re-use bodies including the UK National
unaffected by wave action, engine - no known effects on marine animals; Physics Laboratory, several univer-
noise or heavy work on interven- effect of acoustic signals on marine sities and industrial partners. This
tion UUVs mammals is becoming an issue. area has been largely neglected in
- potential for high data rates; use the digital communications era and
of MHz carrier; does not require WFS has filed ten related internatio-
Applications
precise navigation for hard docking nal patent applications covering com-
of connector-based system; im- Consideration of the advantages of munications, navigation and sensing.
proved reliability vs connectors; electromagnetic signalling has result- Experimental work began in 2004
and has progressed from fundamen-
tal propagation experiments through
data transmission demonstrations to
the point of launching our first com-
munications products in the third
quarter of 2006. WFS is currently
developing two product ranges of
underwater telemetry links.

S1510 Medium Range

Communications System

In September 2006 we launched the

S1510 underwater em modem. This
Figure 4: S1510 Medium range communications system: (left) underwater modem

30 – December 2006 Hydro INTERNATIONAL

 Feature

system has been designed to transmit net bridge functiona-

signals of up to 16kbps over 20m in lity. In practice, each
seawater. At lower data rates, signals deployment has unique
can be transmitted over 200m. requirements. While the
S5510 and S1510
The S1510 can provide periodic two- platforms provide the
way telemetry updates during a one- bulk of the system func-
year deployment powered from a tionality, each solution
small battery pack. has uniquely to balance
parameters such as
This product has been targeted at a antenna design, transmit
variety of applications such as envir- power, duty cycle, data
onmental monitoring, AUV real-time bandwidth, antenna size
control, data harvesting from under- and local noise sources
water sensors and diver communica- to achieve an optimised
tions. solution for the specific
Figure 5: Environmental monitoring application
application.
Electromagnetic communication munications design. While working
links are particularly suited to shal- for GEC-Marconi Research Centre,
Concluding Remarks
low-water applications where diffi- Motorola Cellular Communicati-
cult conditions apply or where non- Communications technology and ons, Agilent Technologies and BAE
obtrusive solutions are required, such operational requirements have rad- SYSTEMS he gained wide experience
as in rivers, estuarine waters, in har- ically changed since underwater of military and communications
bours or around industrial facilities electromagnetism was first evaluated. radio-frequency technology. Mark
on the coast or offshore. Signals pass Wireless Fibre Systems has pioneer- leads the engineering development of
through ice with low attenuation, so ed commercial developments in this underwater radio communications at
all-year data collection is possible area and has launched the world's Wireless Fibre Systems.
even when surface water is frozen. first underwater em communica-
tions product with unique capabilities. E-mail: mark@wirelessfibre.co.uk
We believe the impact of
S5510 Short Range, this technology will prove
Broadband Electromagnetic disruptive in a broad range
Communications
of industries, including
The end of 2006 will see the launch of defence, offshore oil & gas
the S5510, a broadband electro- and environmental monito-
magnetic telemetry link aimed at ring.
customers who require transfer of
large amounts of data (1-10Mbps)
Biography of the
over short distances (<1m) under
Author
water. This has been designed to sup-
port the rapid harvesting of data from Mark Rhodes is enginee-
underwater sensors by UUVs, with- ring manager at Wireless
out the need for a hard docking and at Fibre Systems and has over
very high Joules-per-bit efficiency. It fifteen years experience in
provides duplex operation with Ether- microwave, radio and com-

Figure 6: Broadband telemetryfor data harvesting.

Hydro INTERNATIONAL December 2006 - 31