A Unified Framework for Underwater Acoustic Channel Simulation, Analysis, and Hardware Emulation

This project aims to develop a comprehensive and scientifically grounded framework for simulating underwater acoustic communication channels, with a strong emphasis on physical realism, interpretability, and adaptability. Underwater acoustic propagation poses unique challenges—including highly time‑varying conditions, significant multipath dispersion, motion‑induced Doppler shifts, and variability arising from surface waves, currents, and seabed interactions. To support next‑generation waveform design, channel characterization, and system prototyping, the project will produce a robust software‑based simulation engine and investigate pathways for hardware‑based emulation.

A MATLAB graphical user interface (GUI) will be developed to enable users to configure waveform parameters, specify time‑varying impulse response (TVIR) inputs, adjust sampling rates and carrier frequencies, model velocity‑dependent Doppler conditions, and tune noise environments. The GUI will provide an interactive platform for running simulations and analyzing results. Additional visualization tools—such as TVIR plots, delay–Doppler scattering functions, and input/output waveform displays—will help researchers better understand channel dynamics and behaviour.

An extended component of the project will explore the feasibility of implementing a hardware‑based underwater channel emulator using Universal Software Radio Peripherals (USRPs). This component aims to map the TVIR‑based channel model onto a software‑defined radio platform, enabling the real‑time testing of underwater acoustic communication algorithms, waveforms, and modems. Such a system would bridge the gap between simulation and field trials, offering a controlled laboratory environment for validating system robustness before deployment at sea.

Verification and validation activities will include analytical checks, controlled simulation scenarios, and software–hardware co‑simulation experiments. Comprehensive documentation of design choices, modelling assumptions, and implementation procedures will ensure transparency, reproducibility, and extensibility for future researchers.