An OFDM-Based Frequency Domain Equalization Algorithm for Underwater Acoustic Communication with a High Channel Utilization Rate

Abstract

The underwater acoustic communication technique for high-speed and highly reliable information transmission in the ocean has been one of the popular research focuses facing the fast-growing information technology sector and the accelerating development of ocean resources. In order to achieve a high information transmission rate with limited underwater acoustic channel bandwidth, researchers have paid much attention to the underwater acoustic communication technique based on orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM). A traditional OFDM-based frequency domain equalization algorithm relies on cyclic prefixes for the effective resistance to the multipath effect of an underwater acoustic channel. However, a redundant cyclic prefix may lead to a severe waste of energy and bandwidth in the underwater acoustic system if it is too long. The high utilization rate of OFDM signal channel will not be practically achieved in this case. Based on the limitations of the existing frequency domain equalization algorithm, this paper studied the influence of the multipath effect on the OFDM signal transmission. Subsequently, the principles of the OFDM-based frequency domain equalization were further explored for an improved structural model design of the communication system. On this basis, a novel frequency domain adaptive equalization algorithm was put forward. In addition, the proposed algorithm was optimized to address the problem of increased computation. The simulation results proved that the novel frequency domain equalization algorithm delivers a better symbol error ratio than the existing algorithm, and the compensation for the multipath effect through frequency selective fading. The proposed algorithm can realize the information transmission at a low symbol error ratio when fewer cyclic prefixes are used, so that it takes up a lower number of channels with cyclic prefixes in the OFDM communication system.

Keywords

• underwater acoustic communication
• frequency-domain equalization algorithm
• orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM)
• circular prefix
• multipath effect