Resilient communications for underwater systems

Abstract

In the rapidly evolving landscape of digital communications that defines our contemporary world, the imperative for resilient, secure, and distributed wireless systems has never been more crucial. Within the specific context of defence and security operations, the critical role of resilient, secure, and distributed wireless communications in fostering optimal situational awareness and facilitating information exchange cannot be overstated. This thesis introduces innovative novel approaches and solutions to address the intricate technical challenges inherent in tactical communications. These challenges are particularly pronounced in scenarios such as urban deployments or underwater acoustic communications. The diverse techniques presented in this work include a pioneering Joint Source Channel Coding scheme, a novel Log Likelihood Ratio (LLR)-based signal processing demodulation technique for M-ary Orthogonal Signalling, novel turbo-equalization techniques tailored to a NATO standard, integrated security within a high-performance physical layer for underwater communications, and pioneering approaches to the integration of communications and autonomy. These advancements ensure optimal resource utilisation while minimising environmental and operational impact. The robustness of several of the proposed solutions is evaluated through analysis and implementations in relevant scenario simulations. Real-world applicability and performance metrics are considered to validate the efficacy of the methodologies developed and their ultimate integration within existing defence and security frameworks.

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Identifiers

ORCID for Alexander James Beaumont Hamilton: orcid.org/0000-0003-0604-6563

ORCID for Rob Maunder: orcid.org/0000-0002-7944-2615

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