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An investigation into OFDM as a suitable modulation tecnique for an acoustic underwater modem

Thesis (MScEng)--Stellenbosch University, 2012.

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Main Author: Du Preez, Johannes
Other Authors: Wolhuter, R.
Format: Thesis
Language:en_ZA
Published: Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University 2012
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access_status_str Open Access
author Du Preez, Johannes
author2 Wolhuter, R.
author_browse Du Preez, Johannes
Wolhuter, R.
author_facet Wolhuter, R.
Du Preez, Johannes
author_sort Du Preez, Johannes
collection Thesis
dc_rights_str_mv Stellenbosch University
description Thesis (MScEng)--Stellenbosch University, 2012.
format Thesis
id oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/71806
institution Stellenbosch University (South Africa)
language en_ZA
last_indexed 2026-06-10T12:46:36.532Z
license_str Other — see source repository
provenance_str_mv Harvested via OAI-PMH from SUNScholar — Stellenbosch University Repository
publishDate 2012
publishDateRange 2012
publishDateSort 2012
publisher Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University
publisherStr Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University
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source_str SUNScholar — Stellenbosch University Repository
spelling oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/71806 An investigation into OFDM as a suitable modulation tecnique for an acoustic underwater modem Du Preez, Johannes Wolhuter, R. Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Engineering. Dept. of Electrical and Electronic Engineering. Acoustic underwater modem Orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) Modulation techniques Phase shift keying Quadrature amplitude modulation Dissertations -- Electronic engineering Theses -- Electronic engineering Thesis (MScEng)--Stellenbosch University, 2012. ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This thesis investigates orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) as a viable modulation technique for an ultrasonic acoustic underwater modem. The underwater environment provides a challenging setting for acoustic communications. Long delay spreads due to multipath propagation, severe Doppler frequency shifts, frequency dependent absorption and very limited bandwidth are but some of the challenges to overcome. OFDM essentially provides the parallel transmission of symbols in the frequency domain by simultaneously modulating many closely spaced orthogonal subcarriers. The resulting long parallel symbol rate together with the cyclic extension of symbols render the signal robust against intersymbol interference (ISI) caused by multipath propagation. Intercarrier interference (ICI) between the overlapping frequency responses of subcarriers is mitigated by their property of orthogonality. Doppler spread contributes to the loss of orthogonality and can result in severe ICI. A method of measuring the Doppler shift by means of including a preamble and postamble symbol with each data frame is proposed. The detected frequency offset is corrected by resampling the frame at the desired sample rate. Not only do the ambles serve as a mechanism for timing and frequency synchronisation, but they are also applied in the channel estimation process. The equalisation of channel response is required for the coherent demodulation of the received symbols. An investigation into different phase shift keying (PSK) and quadrature amplitude modulation (QAM) constellations reveal optimal arrangements for minimal symbol errors. The optimised QAM constellations do not lend themselves to Gray-coding, so that an efficient interleaving scheme is needed to mitigate the non-uniform distribution of bit errors among symbol errors. Forward error correction is provided via a Bose Chaudhuri Hocquenghem (BCH) block code. Variable code rates, together with the ability to switch between different constellations, enable the modem to perform so-called variable modulation in an attempt to maximise the throughput under specific channel conditions. The modulation/demodulation scheme is wholly defined in software as to provide flexibility and facilitate experimentation with different signal processing methods. The accompanying hardware platform allows for the transmission of a pre-generated signal and the recording of a received signal for off-line processing. The prototype design serves as a proof of concept and thus provides only simplex communication. Field tests over limited distances demonstrate the successful operation of the prototype modem. We conclude that OFDM is indeed a suitable modulation technique for acoustic underwater communication. AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Hierdie tesis ondersoek die toepassing van ortogonale frekwensiedeling multipleksering (OFDM) as modulasie tegniek op ʼn onderwater kommunikasie modem. Die onderwater omgewing bied vele uitdagings vir akoestiese kommunikasie. Lang vertraging-verstrooiings as gevolg van multipad voortplanting, Doppler frekwensieskuif, frekwensieafhanklike absorpsie, en beperkte bandwydte is van die uitdagings wat oorkom moet word. In essensie bied OFDM die parallelle versending van ʼn aantal simbole deur die gelyktydige modulasie van verskeie nou-gespasieerde subdraers in die frekwensiegebied. Die gevolglike lang parallelle simboolperiodes, tesame met die sikliese uitbreiding van simbole, verleen immuniteit teen intersimbool steurnisse (ISI) wat ontstaan as gevolg van multipad voortplanting. Die ortogonaliteit van naburige draers in die frekwensiegebied beperk interdraer steuring (ICI) tussen hul oorvleuelende frekwensie weergawes. Doppler frekwensieskuif kan egter lei tot die verlies aan ortogonaliteit en bydra tot ernstige interdraer steurings. ʼn Metode wat gebruik maak van aanhef en slot simbole, ingesluit by elke raam, word voorgestel om die Dopplerskuif te meet. Die bepaalde frekwensieafset word gekorrigeer deur die monstertempo van die raam aan te pas na die verlangde tempo. Buiten die tyd- en frekwensie-sinkronisasie funksies van die aanhef en slot simbole, speel dit ook ʼn belangrike rol in die ontrekking van die frekwensie weergawe van die kanaal. Die effening van die kanaal se frekwensieweergawe is noodsaaklik vir die koherente demodulasie van die ontvangde simbole. ʼn Ondersoek na verskillende fase verskuif sleuteling (PSK) en kwadratuur amplitude modulasie (QAM) konstellasies het optimale rangskikkings opgelewer vir minimale simboolfoute. Hierdie optimale QAM konstellasies verleen hulself egter nie na Gray-kodering nie. ʼn Effektiewe invlegtegniek is nodig om die nie-uniforme verspreiding van bisfoute tussen simboolfoute te beperk. Fout korrigering funksionaliteit word gebied deur ʼn Bose Chaudhuri Hocquenghem (BCH) blokkode. Verstelbare koderingstempo’s en die vermoë om tussen verskillende konstellasies te skakel, stel die modem in staat om sogenaamde verstelbare modulasie te gebruik in ʼn poging om die data deurset te optimeer onder spesifieke kanaal kondisies. Die modulasie en demodulasie skema is volledig in sagteware gedefinieer. Dit verleen buigbaarheid en vergemaklik eksperimentering met verskeie seinverwerkingstegnieke. Die meegaande hardeware platvorm stel die modem in staat om vooraf opgewekte seine uit te saai en rou ontvangde siene op te neem vir na-tydse verwerking. Die prototipe ontwerp dien as ʼn konseptuele bewys en bied dus slegs simplekse kommunikasie. Die suksesvolle werking van die modem is gedemonstreer deur toetsing oor beperkte afstande. Hieruit word afgelei dat OFDM inderdaad geskik is vir akoestiese onderwater kommunikasie. 2012-11-09T07:36:03Z 2012-12-12T08:11:39Z 2012-11-09T07:36:03Z 2012-12-12T08:11:39Z 2012-12 Thesis http://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/71806 en_ZA Stellenbosch University 123 p. : ill. application/pdf Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University
spellingShingle Acoustic underwater modem
Orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM)
Modulation techniques
Phase shift keying
Quadrature amplitude modulation
Dissertations -- Electronic engineering
Theses -- Electronic engineering
Du Preez, Johannes
An investigation into OFDM as a suitable modulation tecnique for an acoustic underwater modem
title An investigation into OFDM as a suitable modulation tecnique for an acoustic underwater modem
title_full An investigation into OFDM as a suitable modulation tecnique for an acoustic underwater modem
title_fullStr An investigation into OFDM as a suitable modulation tecnique for an acoustic underwater modem
title_full_unstemmed An investigation into OFDM as a suitable modulation tecnique for an acoustic underwater modem
title_short An investigation into OFDM as a suitable modulation tecnique for an acoustic underwater modem
title_sort investigation into ofdm as a suitable modulation tecnique for an acoustic underwater modem
topic Acoustic underwater modem
Orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM)
Modulation techniques
Phase shift keying
Quadrature amplitude modulation
Dissertations -- Electronic engineering
Theses -- Electronic engineering
url http://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/71806
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