Evaluation of vector sensors for adaptive equalization in underwater acoustic communication
Evaluation of vector sensors for adaptive equalization in underwater acoustic communication
Date
2014-09
Authors
Lewis, Matthew R.
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DOI
10.1575/1912/6917
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Keywords
Underwater acoustics
Underwater acoustic telemetry
Instruments
Underwater acoustic telemetry
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Abstract
Underwater acoustic communication is an extremely complex field that faces many
challenges due to the time-varying nature of the ocean environment. Vector sensors
are a proven technology that when utilizing their directional sensing capabilities
allows us to minimize the effect of interfering noise sources. A traditional pressure
sensor array has been the standard for years but suffers at degraded signal to
noise ratios (SNR) and requires maneuvers or a lengthly array aperture to direction
find. This thesis explores the effect of utilizing a vector sensor array to steer to the
direction of signal arrival and the effect it has on equalization of the signal at degraded
SNRs. It was demonstrated that utilizing a single vector sensor we were able
steer to the direction of arrival and improve the ability of an equalizer to determine
the transmitted signal. This improvement was most prominent when the SNR was
degraded to levels of 0 and 10 dB where the performance of the vector sensor outperformed
that of the pressure sensor in nearly 100% of cases. Finally, this performance
improvement occured with a savings in computational expense.
Description
Submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution September 2014
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Citation
Lewis, M. R. (2014). Evaluation of vector sensors for adaptive equalization in underwater acoustic communication [Doctoral thesis, Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution]. Woods Hole Open Access Server. https://doi.org/10.1575/1912/6917