A Highly Compatible Optical/Acoustic Modem based on MIMO-OFDM for Underwater Wireless Communication using FPGA

Abstract

This work is on Underwater Wireless Communication using optical/acoustic modem based on MIMO–OFDM method. Underwater Communication is a vast field where data analysis is performed on sea exploration, aquatic animals, aquatic species etc. But the current system is based on sound as medium for communication. This system faces many significant problems which plays a key role in affecting the performance of the entire system lost the data and resulting in efficiency of the system only for a few meters radius of transmission and reception. In this paper, the modem designed for both optical (light) and acoustic (ultrasound) signals using MATLAB Simulink and implemented on Xilinx System generator using FPGA. This helps in drastic reduction in the data loss. The communication of the proposed optical/acoustic modem is based on MIMO-OFDM multiplexing technique. The combination of MIMO-OFDM was very useful since MIMO does not use multiple generation i.e., it enhances the capacity by transmitting different signals over multiple antennas and OFDM reduces the need for signal equalization and increases the spectrum efficiency without adding additional bandwidth. The efficiency of the system is analyzed through the achieved data transmission and reception of data. The results prove the better performance of the proposed modem for underwater wireless communication.