Development of a Hydroacoustic Modem as a

Research Project of the Department of Marine

Electronics (SMTU)
Mihail Kurochkin, Natalia Markovkina1
Department of Marine Electronics
St. Petersburg State Marine Technical University
Saint-Petersburg, Russia
1
ktuschool901@gmail.com

Abstract— The development of a hydroacoustic modem as an
educational project is considered. The structure of the modem
and the implemented principles of coding and modulation are
described. The paper presents a model of sonar communication.
The system consists of several key blocks and implements
Modulation by the Quadratic Amplitude Method (QAM).
Keywords— sonar modem; QAM; FFT; AUV
I. INTRODUCTION
For a long time, there was no problem with communication
with submarines – they used conventional radio
communications. The boats themselves almost did not fall
under water, since they could only do this if they met with
enemy ships. But under water, they significantly lost speed. In
addition, it was easier for a short time to go under water to
swim under the ships.
However, as the submarine fleet developed, more and more
was required to be under water. With the advent of nuclear
submarines, the communication problem became especially
acute. After all, these boats could have secretly been under
water for months. Surfacing for a communication session
threatened detection by the enemy – both by the source of the
radio signal, and by photo from aircraft and satellites. It was
necessary to radically improve communications. So that the
connection is reliable and at the same time does not allow you
to easily detect yourself under water. Scientists and military
experts took up the matter. Several methods have been
proposed for communicating without the need for ascent [1].
We will touch only on those moments that are in free sources
of information, that is, they are not classified. More precisely,
their principles are available for discussion by civilians,
although detailed information is not found.
First, let's talk about a simpler and relatively cheap acoustic
communication method. He appeared almost simultaneously
both in the USA and in the Soviet Union. The essence of the
method is that a special cable was laid along the bottom of the
sea in an area that was "controlled" by submarines. In an
aquatic environment, sound travels quite far. Being relatively
far from the cable, the boat crew could, nevertheless, have
reliable communication with their base with the help of
advanced sensitive hydrophones. Coded messages had only one
minus - enemy intelligence could find the key to the code. It
was noted that low-frequency radio waves (3-30 kHz) penetrate
into seawater to a depth of 20 meters. There was an idea to take
advantage of this without a full surfacing of the boat. Being
underwater at a fairly large depth, the crew released a beacon
from the boat. It floated higher, but did not reach the surface
about 15-18 meters. Thus, the boat remained invisible in the
water column, but could have low frequency radio
communications. But this method also became unsuitable over
time. Technically, the boat with the buoy launched should have
been at a strictly specified depth so that the buoy does not leave
the 20-meter upper water column. And this forced to reduce
underwater speed.
Extremely low frequencies (3–300 Hz) make it possible for
signals to penetrate into sea water at very great depths (of the
order of several hundred meters). It would seem that the ideal
method for underwater communication was found. But its
peculiarity is that at such frequencies very large antennas are
needed - with a length of more than three thousand meters!
There is no mistake. It is with such dimensions that it is
possible to apply a signal from the antenna at ultra-low
frequencies. As a way out of the situation, it was proposed to
use drilled wells on land with metal conductors of this length.
To supply a signal to such huge antennas, separately operating
powerful power plants were required. Transmitters with
grandiose antennas appeared only in the USSR, USA and in
India. But they are ineffective, because the transmission speed
is extremely low (one or two characters per minute). It is clear
that on submarines it is possible to have only a receiver at such
frequencies. Therefore, there can be no talk of two-way
communication. You can only transfer something very short
from land over a very long time. For example, a requirement to
pop up for communication in other ways.
Currently, in an underwater environment, information is
transmitted using acoustic waves. The relevance of creating a
reliable system for transmitting information in an underwater
environment using acoustic waves is due to the rapid
development of research into the depths of the oceans using
autonomous uninhabited underwater vehicles (AUVs). To
control underwater vehicles, it is necessary to organize a
wireless communication line under water, for example,
between a surface vessel and AUV. For operational control of

377 978-1-7281-5761-0/20/$31.00 ©2020 IEEE

Authorized licensed use limited to: Monash University. Downloaded on August 29,2020 at 01:35:28 UTC from IEEE Xplore. Restrictions apply.
AUV [1] and telemetry transmission, a channel of information
transmission of at least several Kb / s is required.
Distortion of the received signal is one of the main
problems of hydroacoustic communication systems. One of the
ways to reduce the influence of received signal distortions on
the quality of demodulation is the development of algorithmic
support for digital synthesis of signals in a transmitter and their
digital processing in a receiver [2].
II. DESCRIPTION OF THE STRUCTURE OF THE HARDWARE PART
OF THE DEVELOPED MODEM
The modem developed by us implies the presence of a
receiver and a radiator (Fig. 1). Communication between these
two modules is carried out in half duplex mode at a frequency
of 25 kHz. Downstream data is transmitted from the emitter to
the receiver, this stream is the main and high-speed. Upstream
is used for control [2].
Fig. 1. The hardware of the sonar modem
The block diagram (Fig. 2) is divided into two channels.
Fig. 2. Block diagram
The physical layer describes a method for transmitting bits
through the physical medium of communication lines. The data
transfer layer is designed to transmit data flow to nodes, detect
and correct errors. Noise-resistant coding introduces an
excessive bit, which ensures the receiver receives the signal
correctly.
378
Authorized licensed use limited to: Monash University. Downloaded on August 29,2020 at 01:35:28 UTC from IEEE Xplore. Restrictions apply.
III. DESCRIPTION OF THE USED METHOD OF MODULATION
For our device, we chose a model that implements
modulation by the method of Quadratic Amplitudes.
Quadratic Amplitude Modulation is a technology for
transmitting a digital information stream in the form of an
analog signal. This is achieved by dividing the carrier wave
into two carriers of the same frequency shifted by 90° relative
to each other, each of which is modulated by one of two or
more discrete amplitude levels [3]. The combination of all
amplitude levels on these two carriers is a binary bitmap [4].
Fig. 3. The canstellation diagram displaying the I / Q vector. The trajectory
of the vector, describing the curve in time, passes through points 10, 01, 10, 00
QPSK - (QuadraturePhaseShiftKeying - Quadratic Phase
Shift Encoding) is the simplest form of QAM encoding (also
known as 4-QAM). QPSK uses two carriers of the same
frequency, shifted by 90 °, and two possible amplitude levels.
One amplitude level corresponds to 0, the other - 1 (see Fig. 1).
The advantage of high numbers in the QAM designation is
the increased data rate. The larger the order, the greater the
number of bits of information that can be transmitted in a
single cycle. However, on the other hand, in this case, a larger
number of signal amplitude levels are located close to each
other, thereby increasing the probability of the
indistinguishability of the two levels, and as a result -
increasing the sensitivity of the system to noise. Thus, high
QAM numbers are more demanding on the CNR (Carrier
Noise Ratio) ratio. Figure 3 shows the ratio of the CNR
parameter to the parameter - BER (Bit Error Rate - Bit / Error
Ratio).
BER, NPR, FEC, MER, BER (Bit Error Rate) is a count of
incorrectly received bits of information, that is, the number of
erroneously received bits divided by the total number of
transmitted bits. It can be expressed in dB, but it is usually
expressed in order with base 10. For example, 10-9 means that
one erroneous bit was received when receiving an information
stream of 1 billion bits.
 Fig. 4. The ratio of CNR to BER
NPR (Noise Power Ratio) is a method of measuring the
signal-to-noise ratio in analog devices operating in QAM or
QPSK modes. Since these modes have a frequency spectrum in
the form of Gaussian noise, the NPR is checked by replacing
the signal with an equivalent white noise band. Closer to the
middle of the strip, this noise “notch” drops. When a noise
band is launched through the device, the notch depth is
determined by several factors: thermal noise, “noise-like
products” of the signal, etc.
Fig. 5. Typical NPR curve
Forward Error Correction (FEC) - Forward Error
Correction is a software method for identifying and eliminating
errors in digital data transmission. This is complex and costly
(in terms of processor power), but the necessary task - to
preempt the loss of bits of information - can improve the
quality of information transfer.
Modulation Error Ratio (MER) - The Modulation / Error
ratio is the deviation of the received modulation in amplitude
and (or) phase from the transmitted one.
With an increase in MER to a value at which points fall on
or behind the cell boundaries, BER increases sharply. Further,
when the BER exceeds the FEC's ability to correct errors,
transmission failure will occur. Almost at the breakdown point,
the quality of information transfer will still be high, without
showing an impending failure.
379
Authorized licensed use limited to: Monash University. Downloaded on August 29,2020 at 01:35:28 UTC from IEEE Xplore. Restrictions apply.
Fig. 6. Evaluation of MER
This phenomenon [5] is known as the "stall effect" when
everything is good up to the specified point. This surprise
disruption is a big problem for information transfer systems,
where it is observed. We cannot predict the occurrence of an
error by analyzing the current stream of transmitted data.
IV. DESCRIPTION OF THE STRUCTURE OF THE DATA PROCESSING
MODEL UNDER DEVELOPMENT
The block diagram of the data processing of the modem
implemented by us is presented in Fig. 7.
Fig. 7. Block diagram of signal processing
Among the main processing units, the following schemes
will be used [6]:
• Serial to Parallel Shifter - the incoming binary data stream
is converted to a parallel stream for digital modulation and
further processing.
• Constellation Mapper (QPSK) - data is converted from
bits to characters in accordance with the QPSK scheme.
• Inverse Fast Fourier Transform - Each group of characters
is converted from the IQ plane (frequency domain) to the time
domain.
• Parallel to Serial Shifter - data in a parallel time domain is
converted to serial frames.
• Cyclic Prefix Extension - The extension of the cyclic
prefix (guard interval) adds to each frame to combat ISI
• Multipath Fading Channel g (n) – Multipath channel with
fading OFMD signal propagates through a multipath channel
with fading modeled g (n).
• Additive Wiite Gaussian Noise w (n) - Adequate White
Gaussian Noise, OFMD signal is exposed to AWGN w (n).
• Cyclic Prefix Removal- removal of a dynamic prefix from
each frame.
 • Serial to Parallel Shifter - serial OFMD frames are
converted to parallel blocks.
• Fast Fourier Transform time-domain data is converted to
the frequency domain for further processing.
• Frequency Domain Channel Estimation- channel
estimation of the frequency domain and alignment of the
OFMD frame in the frequency domain.
• Constellation Demapper – frequency data is mapped from
characters in the IQ plane to bits.
• Parallel to Serial Shifter - parallel data is converted to a
serial binary signal.
V. CONCLUSION
In the process of developing a hydroacoustic modem, we
chose a method for implementing the transfer and selected a
method for converting data. Considered the features of the
modulation method of Quadratic amplitudes. We chose the
components of the sonar modem.
The study and development of the oceans, carried out on a
large scale in various countries, provides, among many other
tasks, the creation and improvement of special underwater
work systems and means to ensure the implementation of
underwater engineering and technical work, including a variety
of diving systems and underwater vehicles - tethered and
autonomous, inhabited and uninhabited. Effective application
of such systems requires providing them with communication
and navigation tools.
Currently, cable and sonar channels are most often used to
solve communication and navigation problems underwater, the
advantages and disadvantages of which are widely known and
described in the literature. A relatively new type of information
carrier for underwater communications and navigation is the
electromagnetic field. The experience of research and
development of underwater electromagnetic systems of various
classes and purposes, accumulated by Russian and foreign
scientists and engineers, allows us to state: they are able in
many cases to supplement sonar and cable systems, and
sometimes to replace them.
380
Authorized licensed use limited to: Monash University. Downloaded on August 29,2020 at 01:35:28 UTC from IEEE Xplore. Restrictions apply.
The classic underwater electromagnetic communication
channel has a limited range and a relatively small information
capacity. However, it is applicable where other types of
channels are unsuitable due to the high level of sonar
interference, propagation patterns, or operating conditions.
Suspensions, algae, hydrological conditions do not affect the
reliability of the electromagnetic communication channel, and
the proximity of the bottom or surface increases the signal
level, and therefore the communication range. The equipment
of the electromagnetic channel is simply constructive and does
not contain expensive components and materials. In addition,
the electromagnetic channel has a much better stealth
application than sonar.
REFERENCES
[1] Antoniou A. Digital signal processing. — Toronto, Canada:: McGraw-
Hill, 2006.
[2] A. Ivanov and A. Zhilenkov, "Acquisition and processing data system
based on technologies of inertial capture of the movement," 2018 IEEE
Conference of Russian Young Researchers in Electrical and Electronic
Engineering (EIConRus), 2018. Available:
10.1109/EIConRus.2018.8317229
[3] D. Lisitsa D. and A. Zhilenkov, "Prospects for the development and
application of spiking neural networks", 2017 IEEE Conference of
Russian Young Researchers in Electrical and Electronic Engineering
(EIConRus), 2017. Available: 10.1109/EIConRus.2017.7910708
[4] A. Zhilenkov, D. Gilyazov, I. Matveev and Y. Krishtal, “Power line
communication in IoT-systems”, 2017 IEEE Conference of Russian
Young Researchers in Electrical and Electronic Engineering
(EIConRus), 2017. Available: 10.1109/EIConRus.2017.7910538
[5] B. Dang and A. Zhilenkov, "Finite precision modeling of radar digital
chaotic systems with dynamical properties analysis", AIP Conference
Proceedings (IET), vol. 2034, pp. 020007, 2018. Available:
10.1063/1.5067350
[6] A. Zhilenkov, “High productivity numerical computations for gas
dynamics modelling based on DFT and approximation”, 2018 IEEE
Conference of Russian Young Researchers in Electrical and Electronic
Engineering (EIConRus), 2018. Available:
10.1109/EIConRus.2018.8317117