Underwater acoustic telemetry for AUVs

The paper deals with the development of acoustic telemetry links for autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) for which there are two principle communication requirements: a high data rate "up-link" from the AUV to the surface for retrieving sensor data such as video and sonar images; and a substantially lower data rate, but very reliable, bi-directional link for communicating command and status signals between the ship and AUV. These communications methods, coupled with new battery technologies, could remove the need for a tether to the AUV entirely.