DEMO: Exploring Underwater Acoustic Communication: Techniques, Standards, and Operational Use Cases
Wireless remote control of underwater vehicles through ROS2, scuba diver voice and text communication, multihop acoustic image transmission and much more: this demo offers a journey across both the history and the current evolution of underwater digital communication. The SIGNET research group of the University of Padova, together with its spinoff company SubSeaPulse, will showcase a low‑cost software‑defined underwater acoustic modem designed for research and experimental deployments, capable of supporting a wide range of operational scenarios. Starting from traditional single‑sideband (SSB) analog voice communication—still widely used in professional and recreational diving—the demo will illustrate how historical techniques shaped today’s digital approaches. Attendees will also explore the JANUS open standard for interoperable underwater digital communication, observing how software‑defined architectures enable rapid prototyping, flexible waveform design, and seamless integration of legacy and modern protocols. Through practical demonstrations and hands‑on interaction, participants will gain a clear understanding of the advantages, constraints, and real‑world behavior of underwater acoustic communication, experiencing directly how multihop networking, diver messaging, and remote control can be implemented in challenging underwater environments.