Underwater Wireless Optical Communication - A Review

Abstract

Underwater Optical Communication System came into Figure is because of its high data rate transmission over the distance up to several 10’s of meters through a Water medium using the optical signals. Data transmission in Underwater medium can be performed in 3 ways i.e., through Radio frequency (RF) signals, Optical signals and Acoustic signals. But when we differentiate between the Acoustic signals, RF signals, and Optical signals, The optical signals provide much higher bandwidth thus facilitates higher data rate. Many potential applications can be performed using UWOC systems such as Environment monitoring, offshore applications, deep ocean explorations, disaster precaution and naval applications. Apart from all of these advantages, one major challenge is in UWOC systems is its severe attenuation of optical signals in Underwater due to absorption and scattering. In order to vanquish these problems in optical communication, different approaches were introduced for UWOC systems in recent years.