Optimizing power consumption for underwater positioning system with hydrophone sensor arrays

Abstract

In underwater research and exploration, detecting and navigating underwater devices pose significant challenges, mainly due to factors such as climate change and surrounding noise, leading to positioning errors. Traditional baseline systems like Long-Base Line (LBL), Short Base-Line (SBL), and Ultra-Short Base Line (USBL) have limitations in accuracy and cost-effectiveness. This paper proposes a novel and cost-effective approach utilising a hydrophone sensor array coupled with beamforming techniques. To address these challenges. The proposed system aims to enhance detection accuracy and reduce integration complexity while optimizing power consumption, thus extending the lifespan of underwater instruments. By adjusting beam angles and amplitudes of transmitting signals based on the position of underwater instruments, our proposed technique offers a simplified yet efficient solution for underwater device detection and navigation. An experimental investigation has been carried out to validate the performance of the proposed system. The results obtained through the investigation show an improved power consumption of up to fifty per cent and an increase in the battery life of underwater devices/instruments. The proposed technique is not only efficient but also sustainable and reliable.