Channel Modeling of Reconfigurable Intelligent Surface-aided Underwater Acoustic Communication System

For underwater connectivity, acoustic communication is a widely deployed technology. However, Underwater Wireless Acoustic Communication (UWAC) are subject to several channel impairments that restrict both efficiency and speed of transmission. In recent times, there has been considerable research into the potential of Reconfigurable Intelligent Surfaces (RISs) as a way to improve the efficiency of terrestrial wireless communication systems. In an effort to highlight the potential of this promising technology in the context of underwater connectivity, we aim to model RIS-assisted UWAC channel using ray tracing techniques in this study. In this context, we obtain channel impulse responses for various RIS configurations. Our results shed light into analyzing the potential of the development of RISs in UWAC providing a basis for future research.