Key Technologies of Underwater Wireless Optical Communication for UUV Cluster Applications

ZHU Yunzhou; HU Xujuan; WANG Xiaobo; YANG Yi; ZHANG Jianlei; HE Feng-tao

doi:10.11993/j.issn.2096-3920.2025-0120

Article Contents

Article Navigation > Journal of Unmanned Undersea Systems > 2025 > Accepted Manuscript

ZHU Yunzhou, HU Xujuan, WANG Xiaobo, YANG Yi, ZHANG Jianlei, HE Feng-tao. Key Technologies of Underwater Wireless Optical Communication for UUV Cluster Applications[J]. Journal of Unmanned Undersea Systems. doi: 10.11993/j.issn.2096-3920.2025-0120

Citation:

ZHU Yunzhou, HU Xujuan, WANG Xiaobo, YANG Yi, ZHANG Jianlei, HE Feng-tao. Key Technologies of Underwater Wireless Optical Communication for UUV Cluster Applications[J]. Journal of Unmanned Undersea Systems. doi: 10.11993/j.issn.2096-3920.2025-0120

Citation:

PDF( 7617 KB)

Key Technologies of Underwater Wireless Optical Communication for UUV Cluster Applications

doi: 10.11993/j.issn.2096-3920.2025-0120

1.
School of Marine Science and Technology, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi’an 710072, China
2.
The 705 Research Institute, China Shipbuilding Industry Corporation Limited, Xi’an 710077, China
3.
School of Electronic Engineering, Xi’an University of Posts and Telecommunications, Xi′an 710121, China

Received Date: 2025-09-04
Accepted Date: 2025-09-12
Rev Recd Date: 2025-09-11

Available Online: 2025-09-16

Abstract

Abstract

Unmanned undersea vehicle (UUV) swarm cooperation is a core capability for future marine operations, highly dependent on stable and efficient underwater communication technology. Underwater Wireless Optical Communication (UWOC), with its high bandwidth and low latency, serves as an ideal solution for medium-to-short-range underwater linking. However, the dynamic alignment and channel fading caused by high-speed UUV motion significantly restrict its practical application. To address these challenges, this study proposes an integrated UWOC system framework aimed at the “communication on the move” (COTM) requirement of UUV clusters. The system employs a cooperative design of wide-angle panoramic high-power transmission and multi-channel diversity high-sensitivity reception, overcoming the technical bottlenecks of link maintenance and stable signal reception under motion conditions. A prototype was developed and experimentally validated: in water with an attenuation coefficient of approximately 0.54 m⁻¹ over a distance of 15.5 m, the system achieved stable communication at 2 Mbit/s (bit error rate is less than 10⁻³); under conditions of 10 m distance, attenuation coefficient of about 0.85 m⁻¹, and UUV speed of 5 kn, the packet loss rate remained below 2%. This work demonstrates the preliminary application of UWOC technology on highly maneuverable multi-degree-of-freedom UUV platforms, providing effective technical support for UUV swarm coordination and high-speed information exchange.
- unmanned undersea vehicle cluster,
- underwater communication,
- underwater wireless optical communication,
- communication on the move,
- cooperative networking

FullText(HTML)

References(16)

References

[1]	陶伟, 张晓霜. 国外水下无人集群应用及关键技术研究[J]. 舰船电子工程, 2021, 41(2): 9-13,54. doi: 10.3969/j.issn.1672-9730.2021.02.003 TAO W, ZHANG X S. Research on application and key technology of underwater unmanned cluster abroad[J]. Ship Electronic Engineering, 2021, 41(2): 9-13,54. doi: 10.3969/j.issn.1672-9730.2021.02.003
[2]	张伟, 王乃新, 魏世琳, 等. 水下无人潜航器集群发展现状及关键技术综述[J]. 哈尔滨工程大学学报, 2020, 41(2): 289-297. doi: 10.11990/jheu.201909039 ZHANG W, WANG N X, WEI S L, et al. Overview of unmanned underwater vehicle swarm development status and key technologies[J]. Journal of Harbin Engineering University, 2020, 41(2): 289-297. doi: 10.11990/jheu.201909039
[3]	邱志明, 马焱, 孟祥尧, 等. 水下无人装备前沿发展趋势与关键技术分析[J]. 水下无人系统学报, 2023, 31(1): 1-9. doi: 10.11993/j.issn.2096-3920.2023-0018 QIU Z M, MA Y, MENG X Y, et al. Analysis on the development trend and key technologies of unmanned underwater equipment[J]. Journal of Unmanned Undersea Systems, 2023, 31(1): 1-9. doi: 10.11993/j.issn.2096-3920.2023-0018
[4]	GAO J, WANG J J, GU J L, et al. Q-learning-based routing optimization algorithm for underwater sensor networks[J]. IEEE Internet of Things Journal, 2024, 11(22): 36350-36357. doi: 10.1109/JIOT.2024.3398797
[5]	ZHU W, ZENG X S, QIU Y. A routing protocol for underwater acoustic-optical hybrid wireless sensor networks based on packet hierarchy and void processing[J]. IEEE Sensors Journal, 2024, 24(4): 5203-5214. doi: 10.1109/JSEN.2023.3348757
[6]	ZENG Z Q, FU S, ZHANG H H, et al. A survey of underwater optical wireless communications[J]. IEEE Communications Surveys and Tutorials, 2017, 19(1): 204-238. doi: 10.1109/COMST.2016.2618841
[7]	高卓, 汤伟江, 朱云周, 等. 微细光缆在水下航行器中的应用及关键技术综述[J]. 水下无人系统学报, 2017, 25(5): 385-395. GAO Z, TANG W J, ZHU Y Z, et al. Overview of applications of fiber optic micro-cable in undersea vehicle and key technologies[J]. Journal of Unmanned Undersea Systems, 2017, 25(5): 385-395.
[8]	CHE X H, WELLS I, DICKERS G, et al. Re-evaluation of RF electromagnetic communication in underwater sensor networks[J]. IEEE Communications Magazine, 2010, 48(12): 143-151. doi: 10.1109/MCOM.2010.5673085
[9]	PARTAN J, KUROSE J, LEVINE B N. A survey of practical issues in underwater networks[C]//2006 First ACM International Workshop on Underwater Networks (WUWNet). Los Angeles, CA, USA: 2006: 17-24.
[10]	YANG L W, BI Z Y, LIANG X, et al. Advancements in underwater optical wireless communication: channel modeling, PAPR reduction, and simulations with OFDM[J]. IEEE Photonics Journal, 2024, 16(5): 1.
[11]	FANG C W, LI S, WANG Y N, et al. High-speed underwater optical wireless communication with advanced signal processing methods survey[J]. Photonics, 2023, 10(7): 811. doi: 10.3390/photonics10070811
[12]	NANDHINI DEVI, R. LEONES SHERWIN VIMALRAJ S. LYDIA J. Optical wireless communication: A survey of recent advances, applications and challenges[J]. Advances in Parallel Computing, 2021, 37: 485-489.
[13]	梁静远, 王醒醒, 李征, 等. 水下无线光通信中关键技术的研究与进展[J]. 数字海洋与水下攻防, 2023, 6(2): 215-240. LIANG J Y, WANG X X, LI Z, et al. Research and development of key technologies in underwater wireless optical communication[J]. Digital Ocean & Underwater Warfare, 2023, 6(2): 215-240.
[14]	赵小俊. 蓝绿激光在海水绕流中的传输特性研究[D]. 南京: 南京理工大学, 2013.
[15]	ISHIBASHI S, SUSUKI K I. 1 Gbps×100 m underwater optical wireless communication using laser module in deep sea[C]//OCEANS 2022. VA, USA: IEEE, 2022.
[16]	查冰婷, 张合, 谭亚运. 水下激光引信回波功率研究[J]. 传感器与微系统, 2013, 32(1): 69-72,75. doi: 10.3969/j.issn.1000-9787.2013.01.020 ZHA B T, ZHANG H, TAN Y Y. Study on echo power of underwater laser fuze[J]. Transducer and Microsystem Technologies, 2013, 32(1): 69-72,75. doi: 10.3969/j.issn.1000-9787.2013.01.020