Low-cost Underwater Acoustic Modem

Existing acoustic modems, typically developed for naval and critical applications, are bulky, very expensive (> $10k). Development of a low-cost underwater acoustic modem is of significant interest for the marine technology research community. This project is motivated by the need from KBIC for continuous monitoring of the Keweenaw Bay. The water quality, water temperature, PH value, salinity, and presence of microbes, impacts the lives of KBIC in various aspects. The goal is to develop a low-cost underwater acoustic sensor network (UASN) for continuous water quality monitoring.

This project will use off-the-shelf sensors for water quality monitoring. Students will develop a low-cost and small-footprint underwater acoustic modem. It will consist of both hardware design and software implementation. The hardware design includes the PCB design and selection/assembly of hardware modules (e.g., transducer, hydrophone, power amplifier and matching network). The software implementation includes the implementation of modulation/demodulation techniques on digital processors (ex: DSP, FPGA, and micro-controllers), and testing of communication methods by Matlab programming. Various experiments in local lakes and rivers will be conducted to evaluate the functionality and performance of the developed system. Students will learn about communication systems, implementation of networks and their role in actively and continuously monitoring the environment. The implementation of the system will benefit the long-term goals of KBIC in protecting its natural environment and the vast bodies of water surrounding the Keweenaw Peninsula.