Advanced sonar processing techniques for underwater acoustic multi-input multi-output communications

This paper investigates the issue of high-rate, underwater acoustic communication and the potential of multi-input multi-output (MIMO) techniques to achieve that end; further, this paper suggests that implementation of such a system would benefit from sonar array processing techniques such as multichannel combining. In order to justify this assertion, this paper first develops an algorithm for a hybrid array processing, decision feedback equalization (DFE) MIMO receiver. Subsequently, the hybrid receiver is compared against a traditional MIMO-DFE receiver of similar complexity. These simulations demonstrate that the hybrid receiver improves receiver communication performance and attains higher spatial diversity compared to a traditional MIMO-DFE receiver structure.