R&D towards the acoustic positioning system of KM3NeT

In this paper we present a possible solution for the acoustic positioning system of KM3NeT, a future very large undersea neutrino telescope. The system consists of an array of budget-priced acoustic transducers that can operate as emitters and receivers in the 20–40 kHz region and withstand the high pressures (up to 500 bar). Versatile associated low-power electronics has been developed, implementing the all-data-to-shore approach. Besides controlling signal transmission and reception, the electronics allows for transducer configuration from shore to benefit from varied on-shore signal processing techniques. We will describe the prototype transceiver and the tests performed to study its specifications, demonstrating that the system fulfils the requirements for the acoustic positioning calibration of KM3NeT.