Analysis of Research Trends and Technological Maturity of Biomimetic Underwater Communication

Underwater biomimetic communication (UBC) technology has been studied to overcome the restricted physical covertness of artificial acoustical communication signals. Recent advancements have demonstrated data transmission at 300 b/s with imperceptible mimicry levels and communication distances of up to 60 km. While these results have raised expectations for practical applications, the actual performance and maturity of this technology have remained unclear. This article investigates and evaluates existing biomimetic communication methods to clarify the current level of UBC technology to plan a development strategy. To analyze their performance, we classified them based on sound types, such as whistles and clicks, and modulation techniques. Simultaneously, the technological maturity of these methods is also assessed using the technical readiness level framework. The results show that biomimetic communication could be a more promising solution for military underwater communication requiring covertness. Finally, we suggest research directions to further develop this technology into a fully operational system.