Fraunhofer FKIE develops acoustic network technology for underwater data transmission

Conventional wireless communication methods like cellular or Wi-Fi are ineffective underwater due to the rapid attenuation of electromagnetic waves. To address this, Fraunhofer FKIE is researching acoustic networks that transmit data via sound waves. These networks face significant technical hurdles, including extremely low bandwidth—often below 200 bits per second at 10-kilometer ranges—and signal interference from water-surface reflections or environmental changes.

The system utilizes a gateway buoy as a critical interface. Once deployed, the buoy collects data from seafloor sensors and autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) and converts it into radio signals for transmission to ships or shore stations. This configuration allows for the remote operation of surveillance equipment, supporting both civil security—such as monitoring pipelines and offshore wind farms—and defense applications.

To manage the bandwidth limitations, the institute, in collaboration with the Wehrtechnische Dienststelle 71 (WTD 71), established the GUWAL (Generic Underwater Application Language) standard and the GUWMANET network protocol. Researcher Dimitri Sotnik noted that these tools were created to replace rigid point-to-point connections with dynamic architectures, allowing the network to adapt its transmission power and data rates to changing environmental conditions.