Performance Analysis of Underwater Radiofrequency Communication in Seawater: An Experimental Study

Communication with the underwater vehicles during their tasks is one of the most important issues. The need for real-time data transfer raises the necessity of developing communication systems. Conventional underwater communication systems, such as acoustic systems, cannot satisfy applications that need a high transmission data rate. In this study, we investigate the radio frequency communication system in seawater, which is crucial for real-time data transfer with underwater vehicles. The experiments were in a water tank full of seawater and a real environment in the ocean. Three types of antennae were used: loop antenna, wire antenna, and helical antenna. An Autonomous Underwater Vehicle (AUV) is used as a transmitter to measure the transmission rate as a function of distance. The helical antenna showed better performance regarding the coverage area. Furthermore, the AUV could move freely within the helical and capture live video streaming successfully. This investigation underscores the potential of radio frequency communication systems for enhancing underwater vehicle operations, offering promising avenues for future research and practical implementation.