An improved acoustic communications system for autonomous underwater vehicles

Applied Remote Technology has recently concluded a two-year research and development program to extend the performance of the adjustable diversity acoustic telemetry system (ADATS), which was designed as an acoustic command and control link for autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs). The result of this program was a second-generation ADATS design, called ADATS II, that uses digital signal processing (DSP) technology. The author presents the results of this development effort and the sea trials conducted on the XP-21 AUV. DSP technology allows the use of complex signal processing algorithms in real time. ADATS II can achieve data rates up to 2500 bits per second with an operational range, depending on data rate, of over 4000 yards.<
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