Implementation of real-time acoustic communications systems

Over the past several years, the field of underwater acoustic (UWA) communications has been focusing on bandwidth efficient phase coherent modulation techniques. In this application, practical communication algorithms, and thus their implementations, are still maturing. In addition to the computer-intensive algorithms used to track and decode these acoustic data, the systems may incorporate compression, coding, and error-detection schemes to provide usable communication links. Several programs are currently underway to utilize these developments in fieldable systems. In this paper, an overview of the signal processing requirements for UWA communications is provided, as well as some constraints placed on these systems by specific applications. The effect of these requirements on overall system design and implementation is outlined.