The objective of the FAF-06 trial is to conduct an experimental study in environmentally adaptive underwater acoustics to develop a sufficient understanding the physics involved to pursue applications in underwater digital communications and cooperative fixed-mobile sensor platform operations in collaboration. The experiment is a joint collaboration of NURC with the Marine Physical laboratory of Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California,- San Diego. The experiments are designed to collect high quality data that will lay the groundwork for the future systems of an underwater wireless communications capability for an undersea, distributed sensor network.

A new industry standard, IEEE 802.11n, is addressing MIMO implementation in radio telemetry through air for consumer applications in high multipath environments like cities and inside buildings. During this sea trial, we investigated the underwater counterpart to this technology that uses digital underwater communications, particularly the MIMO concept. The envisioned transition product is a point-to-point communications demonstration between two undersea nodes. A node could include a modem operating on a moving AUV.

This intent stems from: (a) a common recognition for needed improvement in the field of networked, full-duplex, clandestine, high-speed, phase-coherent underwater communications between AUVs and fixed nodes; and (b) an understanding that the resources and subsequent data associated with the above goal can aid in fully utilizing the undersea environment. To this end, the research effort will therefore investigate how transmitted communications sequences can simultaneously characterize the acoustic environment.

Both NRV Alliance and CRV Leonardo worked near Pianosa Island. The NRV Alliance was involved in series of experiment where underwater communications concepts for applications related to fixed and mobile sensor platforms tested.

NURC's FAF sea trial series continues to be the proving ground for theoretical and experimental breakthroughs in underwater time-reversal acoustic studies. This is in large part due to the professional capacity and flexibility of the Centre's engineering staff and the crews of Leonardo and Alliance.