Standards Development

Scope

This document provides the overview and requirements of Multi-modal based underwater communication
technologies. It specifies the following:

- General requirements, functional requirements, and device requirements of multi-modal underwater
wireless communication technologies;

- Components of multi-modal underwater wireless communication technologies;

Purpose

This new standard defines Multi-Modal Underwater Wireless Communication (MM-UWC) Technology, serving as the foundational infrastructure for delivering Internet of Underwater Things (IoUT) services. MM- UWC addresses challenges in underwater data transmission by integrating optical, acoustic, and magnetic induction communication methods, ensuring reliable connectivity in the dynamic and unpredictable ocean environment.

The advancement of the maritime industry is giving rise to a growing demand for underwater communication technology that can handle high-speed, high-capacity data transmission, including video data. This demand is becoming increasingly important for several reasons:

(1) Enhanced Safety and Efficiency: Real-time data transmission, especially video, enhances safety in underwater operations. It enables remote monitoring and control of equipment, ensuring quick responses to issues.

(2) Environmental Monitoring: Large data volume transmission aids oceanic environmental monitoring, benefiting marine research and conservation. Real-time data analysis offers rapid insights into marine ecosystem health.

(3) Scientific Research: Researchers in marine ecology and geology rely on real-time data from underwater environments for their work.

(4) Industrial Applications: Industries like offshore oil and gas, aquaculture, mining, and underwater cable installations require efficient underwater communication for managing and optimizing operations.

Mission-critical underwater communication technology refers to specialized communication systems and technologies designed for use in critical and high-stakes applications within the maritime industry. These technologies are essential for reliable and efficient communication in underwater environments where standard communication methods often fail due to the challenges posed by water's density, salinity, and temperature, among other factors.

The necessity of mission-critical underwater communication technology can be summarized as follows:

(1) Safety and Security: It enhances safety in offshore drilling, construction, robotics, and naval operations by facilitating reliable communication in challenging underwater conditions.

(2) Remote Operation: ROVs and AUVs can communicate seamlessly with operators on the surface, enabling precise control and data transmission.

(3) Environmental Monitoring: Researchers can collect continuous data for oceanic assessments, resource exploration, and geological studies.

(4) Industrial Operations: Industries depend on underwater infrastructure and equipment, making reliable communication essential.

(5) Data Retrieval and Analysis: Large data transmission supports decision-making and real-time analysis in the maritime industry.

MM-UWC Technology, and Underwater Stations are connected by MM-UWC Links, enabling versatile, high- data-rate communication in underwater environments. This technology is essential for several applications, including disaster response, infrastructure inspection, and environmental monitoring.

MM-UWC infrastructure provides reliable communications in the underwater environment, even in critical and emergency situations, and supports real-time data transmission and monitoring in a variety of applications.

MM-UWC revolutionizes data collection, monitoring, and decision-making in the underwater environment by providing stable and reliable communication in the underwater environment. This supports efficient management of underwater resources, environmental protection, safe maritime activities, and scientific research. As one of the core elements of the IoUT, it provides high value for modern applications in underwater environments.

IoUT represents a dynamic ecosystem where underwater sensors are interconnected with internet servers, enabling precise control and data management for a wide range of applications. Due to its potential uses in numerous fields, such as maritime research, environmental monitoring, offshore enterprises, and military, this approach has drawn considerable attention. IoUT development has obstacles like the hostile underwater environment, scarce energy supplies, and the requirement for reliable communication systems.

This IoUT framework, MM-UWC, comprises three primary components: applications, communication, and sensing devices, each contributing significantly to its functionality and versatility

. In the application context, there arises a critical need for mission-critical MM-UWC. With the help of this technology, early warning systems for disasters and tsunamis can be established, allowing for prompt alerts and perhaps life-saving actions. MM-UWC also plays a pivotal role in the inspection of underwater facilities, ensuring the integrity and safety of underwater infrastructure. Furthermore, it is instrumental in the construction, maintenance, and repair of offshore wind structures, optimizing operational efficiency. Additionally, MM-UWC facilitates the remote control and monitoring of costly devices submerged in aquatic environments, reducing operational risks and costs. Finally, it is essential for determining the locations of seabed pipelines, enabling the exact and effective installation of crucial underwater pipelines.

The network architecture is a complex and specialized system designed to facilitate communication and data exchange between terrestrial and underwater components. IoUT relies on a combination of technologies and protocols tailored to the unique challenges of underwater environments. The communication aspect of IoUT involves the transmission of data between underwater sensing devices and remote servers. It leverages multiple communication mediums, including acoustic, optical, and RF (Radio Frequency), tailored to the unique challenges posed by underwater environments. Given the underwater communication characteristics in this situation, communication requires careful consideration of elements like signal propagation, attenuation, and interference.

The underwater sensing devices, which comprise an array of sensors designed to capture various environmental parameters. These sensors enable the acquisition of critical data for real-time monitoring and decision-making, making them pivotal in executing underwater missions efficiently. The versatility of these sensors empowers IoUT to adapt to a wide array of tasks, from studying marine life behavior to supporting offshore infrastructure maintenance.

Effective communication is crucial for both autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) and remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) engaged in underwater exploration and infrastructure monitoring. AUVs, as sensor nodes, autonomously navigate predetermined or self-determined paths, continuously gathering crucial data while maintaining a wireless connection to the mother ship. This capability facilitates real-time monitoring of survey progress and supports the simultaneous use of multiple AUVs for tasks such as pipeline surveying and underwater infrastructure monitoring. On the other hand, ROVs that are operated remotely from a mother ship and perform tasks like pipeline inspection and infrastructure monitoring rely on a tethered link for both power and communication. To ensure real-time monitoring and accurate remote control, high-data-rate communication is a crucial component of both AUV and ROV operations. This ensures the efficiency and reliability of the AUV/ROV industry.

MM-UWC finds its application in various domains that benefit from reliable and versatile underwater communication. Whether in disaster warning systems, offshore infrastructure maintenance, underwater construction, or environmental monitoring, MM-UWC plays a pivotal role. Its ability to facilitate real-time data exchange in challenging underwater environments makes it a valuable technology across a broad spectrum of underwater operations and industries:

(1) Underwater Resource Exploration and Development: This includes applications involving the search for and utilization of valuable resources beneath the ocean's surface, such as minerals, oil, natural gas, and other valuable materials found in underwater environments. It often involves sophisticated technologies and equipment to locate and extract these resources while ensuring minimal environmental impact.

(2) Marine Ecosystem and Environmental Monitoring: This application involves the use of various technologies and sensors to observe, assess, and safeguard the health and condition of underwater ecosystems and the surrounding environment. It includes monitoring water quality, tracking marine life and their habitats, and detecting changes in ocean conditions due to factors like pollution, climate change, and natural events.

(3) Marine Science Research: Applications in marine science research involve the use of underwater communication to collect valuable data and conduct scientific investigations in marine environments. Researchers employ various technologies, including sensors, underwater vehicles, and remote monitoring systems, to study marine life, oceanography, and underwater phenomena.

(4) Mission-Critical Underwater Applications: These are applications that require real-time communication and are of paramount importance in various domains. They involve scenarios which are timely and reliable.

The main purpose of the document is to provide the requirements and components to design and develop multi-modal based communication technologies for underwater communication.

The main purpose of the document is to provide the requirements and components to design and develop multi-modal based communication technologies for underwater communication.

Multi-modal Underwater Wireless Communication (MM-UWC) is an innovative approach that integrates multiple underwater communication modes. It provides standardized communication technology to meet various underwater communication requirements while emphasizing environmental protection.