Underwater Acoustic Communications Navy STTR FY2005 Sol No.: Navy STTR FY2005 Topic No.: N05-T022 Topic Title: Underwater Acoustic Communications Proposal No.: N054-022-0243 Firm: Benthos, Inc. 49 Edgerton Drive North Falmouth, Massachusetts 02556 Contact: Dale Green Phone: (508) 563-1000 Web Site: www.benthos.com Abstract: This proposal is concerned with the development of very long range acoustic communications (acomms) with submerged submarines with towed arrays . To achieve long ranges, we must move down from our conventional signaling above 10 kHz, to a frequency regime which imposes little attenuation on the signals. Based upon the availability of an extensive, well-documented long-range sonar data base, we propose using the Very Low Frequency band (e.g., below perhaps 200 Hz). The sonar data supports the estimation of channel scattering functions, which will be used explicitly to "channelized" telemetry waveforms by simulation. We will evaluate telemetry performance of these "received" waveforms. Benefits: The successful completion of this program will demonstrate that the extensive collections of sonar records available throughout the navy may be mined to extract channel-defining characteristics suitable for predicting the performance of telemetry techniques, used in those same channels. We will also expand the application of our already extensive capabilities in acoustic communications by providing the Fleet with a long range (receive only) method for reaching distant submarines operating at speed and depth. Return