Aqua-Fi system allows data transfer under water

Data transmission in the aquatic environment usingRadio waves are ineffective and do not allow the use of radio communications between divers and submarines, and also complicates the process of transmitting data to the surface. Scientists from the King Abdullah University of Science and Technology in Saudi Arabia, who created an underwater wireless optical communication system (UMOC), tried to solve the problem.

The developed technology is calledAqua-Fi and allows you to transmit HD video in the aquatic environment using lasers. The principle of operation is based on the transmission of data obtained during underwater shooting, for example using a smartphone placed in a waterproof protective case, using traditional radio waves on an intermediate device mounted on scuba diver's air cylinders.

In the next step, the microcomputer (in thisRaspberry Pi) converts data into light pulses encoded in binary code and sent to the receiver using a 520-nanometer laser or an array of green LEDs.

Laser application is more promising forBroadcast data over long distances. However, using LEDs requires much less energy. The encoded data is transmitted to a receiver located on the bottom of the vessel, where it is decrypted and converted into ordinary photos or video materials using computer decoders. In the future, the received photos can be traditionally transmitted to the Internet using satellites.

Aqua-Fi technology previously tested only withdata transmission between two computers in still water at a distance of 5 meters. The main problem that is still relevant for the successful implementation of Aqua-Fi technology is overcoming the effect of light scattering in moving water. To this end, scientists have proposed the use of a spherical receiver capable of picking up signals coming from different directions.

Source: theengineer