Optical Wireless Underwater Communication for AUV: Preliminary Simulation and Experimental Results

An optical wireless underwater communication simulation model is proposed, which serves as the theoretical model of the underwater optical wireless communication simulator for AUVs. Various parameters that will influence the light distribution and optical communication performance are explored. As a preliminary result, this paper focuses on the light distribution and propagation in water, and the communication channel characteristics. Given the parameters of the transmitter and water turbidity, the model provides the received light power in every position. With the calculation of the noise power in the receiver, an estimation of data rate capacity is provided. This research aims at building the simulator, which eventually will help the underwater optical wireless communication system design.