Acta Photonica Sinica, Volume. 52, Issue 11, 1106001(2023)

Underwater Wireless Optical Dynamic Communication Technology and Experimental Research

Jiaxing WANG, Peng ZHANG*, Ya ZHAO, Chuan LIU, Runpeng LIU, Yangfan DU, and Shoufeng TONG
Author Affiliations
  • National and Local Engineering Research Center of Space Optoelectronic Technology,Changchun University of Science and Technology,Changchun 130022,China
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    The advancement in marine resource utilization by humans has spurred the need for performance metrics for underwater communication technology. Traditional underwater acoustic communication has reached its limitations due to its slow speed and significant delay, while submarine optical cables also present challenges in deployment and maintenance. Thus, underwater wireless optical communication technology, notable for its speed, high capacity, energy efficiency, and minimal delay, has emerged as an efficient solution to the problems of underwater high-speed wireless communication. However, the presence of underwater turbulence or aquatic organisms may lead to uncertainty in the direction of the communication emission light sources, hindering optical path alignment in the communication system and compounding the challenges of underwater wireless optical communication chain development. To address this, some strategies for underwater wireless optical communication employ mechanical fixation or manual adjustments for optical path alignment, which unfortunately limit the flexibility of the system. In light of these challenges, this paper presents the design of an underwater wireless optical communication system with optical alignment capability, providing a theoretical and practical groundwork for future underwater wireless optical communication networking.The paper proposes an underwater wireless optical dynamic communication system based on a servo system, and uses a two-dimensional waterproof photoelectric turntable as the loading platform. The platform integrates various components such as a CMOS camera, a Fresnel optical antenna, an APD detector module, and employs an external STM32F407 master controller to capture and align the signal spot at the transmission end of the system. The initial experiment tested the spot alignment accuracy of the servo system and analyzed communication rate, bit error rate, and detector sensitivity upon completing the communication optical path alignment.Following system power-up, light spots are simulated at different underwater positions by adjusting the azimuth and pitch of transmitting end turntable A. At this stage, a capture alignment command is issued to receiving turntable B, controlling it to align with the light spot. With an optical power of 30 mw at the transmitting end, the spot alignment takes 8.2 seconds when the azimuth miss distance is 815 and elevation miss distance is 697, with an azimuth alignment error of 0.17 mrad and an elevation alignment error of 0.42 mrad. After the system's optical alignment is completed, the communication performance is tested. With an error rate maintained at 10-6, the minimum signal amplitude output at communication rates of 10 Mbps, 20 Mbps, 30 Mbps, 40 Mbps, and 50 Mbps is measured. The detector sensitivity at these communication rates are -31.87 dBm, -29.03 dBm, -28.56 dBm, -27.49 dBm, and -26.74 d Bm, respectively, enabling the detection of weak light signals. The system can capture the emission spot at different positions within its field of view and sustain a stable communication link to perform communication functions.By integrating a servo system with the underwater wireless optical communication system, an underwater wireless optical dynamic communication system is designed capable of high precision optical path alignment. The system benefits from a broad field of view capture, simple structure, and high communication rate. Compared to traditional ATP laser communication systems using coarse and fine tracking modes, this system simplifies its structure based on communication distance and the underwater environment, and uses a large aperture Fresnel optical antenna to optocouple the signal into the APD detector, thereby reducing optical power attenuation. Experimental tests show that the servo system and the communication system work as expected, achieving spot capture, optical path alignment, and data communication. The results validate that the servo system can address the complex alignment of communication optical paths in underwater environments. In future work, the aim is to enhance the servo system's performance and develop its capability to track mobile communication transmitters. In addition, the communication performance of the system is optimized, fully utilizing the three optical windows of the platform to achieve duplex communication in underwater environments.

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    Jiaxing WANG, Peng ZHANG, Ya ZHAO, Chuan LIU, Runpeng LIU, Yangfan DU, Shoufeng TONG. Underwater Wireless Optical Dynamic Communication Technology and Experimental Research[J]. Acta Photonica Sinica, 2023, 52(11): 1106001

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    Paper Information

    Category: Fiber Optics and Optical Communications

    Received: May. 5, 2023

    Accepted: Jul. 7, 2023

    Published Online: Dec. 22, 2023

    The Author Email: ZHANG Peng (zp@cust.edu.cn)

    DOI:10.3788/gzxb20235211.1106001

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