Thesis-2002-Newborough.pdf (10.45 MB)
Download fileUnderwater position-fixing using digital acoustic communication techniques
thesis
posted on 2018-11-19, 16:23 authored by Darryl NewboroughThis thesis describes an intelligent underwater acoustic system that allows the positions
of several divers or Remotely Operated Vehicles (ROV) to be tracked in three-dimensional
space and to telemeter the co-ordinates to a remote receiver at the surface.
The positions are fixed using three randomly deployed seabed transponders that may be
described as intelligent. The transponders fix their own relative positions and the position
of the surface receiver, usually a vessel, by an exchange of coded acoustic pulses. These
positions can be related to a differential GPS system at the surface if absolute coordinates
are required. An underwater acoustic positioning and communication system
can provide a vital navigation aid for a diver and surface supervisor. Often underwater
positioning systems only provide the surface supervisor with diver's positions, with the
diver navigating from voiced instruction via an acoustic or wire link communication. In
the system described the divers each know their own position from a wrist-worn
computer with a backlit graphical/numerical display. As well as the current position, the
display can show the track from the beginning of the dive, the location of the surface
vessel and the instantaneous position of the other divers. [Continues.]
Funding
Loughborough University, Faculty of Engineering. EPSRC.
History
School
- Mechanical, Electrical and Manufacturing Engineering