A Feasibility Study of Cross-Medium Direct Acoustic Communication Between Underwater and Airborne Nodes

Abstract

Cross-medium direct acoustic communication between underwater and airborne nodes is usually considered infeasible because of the strong acoustic impedance mismatch at the water-air interface. This study experimentally examines the feasibility of a direct acoustic link from an underwater transducer to an airborne receiver and reports measurable airborne acoustic signals and successful OFDM communication across the interface. The results show a direct water-to-air acoustic link with a data rate of 4.565 kbps under the tested conditions, opening a practical path for cross-medium underwater-to-air communication without relay nodes.

Shaojian Yang

Assistant Research Fellow / Postdoctoral Fellow

My research interests include underwater communications, distributed acoustic sensing and ocean Internet of Things.