Multiple-input multiple-output underwater acoustic communications by using a quasi-orthogonal group space-time architecture

Abstract

A Quasi-orthogonal Group Space-Time (QoGST) architecture is presented in this paper for better diversity and multiplexing tradeoff gains in Multiple-Input Multiple-Output (MIMO) underwater acoustic (UWA) communications. Both QoGST and Group Layered Space-Time (GLST) are the combination of space-time block coding (STBC) and layered space-time coding. For GLST, the STBC is taken just in each group. For QoGST, however, all groups are encoded together via inter-group STBC, which can effectively suppress the interference between groups with the orthogonal STBC. At the receivers, the STBC decoding is performed and thus we have the higher diversity gains for the group detection. A statistical model of UWA channel which is presented by Milica Stojanovic and contains variations caused by small- and large-scale effects is considered. Simulation results show that the frame error rate (FER) of QoGST is much lower than that of GLST, which means the QoGST has the higher diversity gains. Furthermore, the lower bound diversity and multiplexing tradeoff of QoGST is coincides with that of GLST and the upper bound diversity and multiplexing tradeoff of QoGST is closer to the optimal values.