Paving the way for a future underwater omni-directional wireless optical communication systems

To lay down the foundation for an underwater omni-directional optical communication system for tele-operation, we tested a point-to-point optical communication system, using laser-emitting diodes (LEDs). The LEDs used in the test emitted light in the green and blue light spectrum and were tested in a pool and in a tank filled with lake water. The primary objective of these tests was to get profiles of the behaviors of such communication systems with respect to water characteristics such as turbidity levels, prior to building the proposed omni-directional optical communication. The results of the tests indicated that turbidity level, viewing angle and separation distance plays a significant role in the behavior of blue light in water. Furthermore, it was possible to graph the profile of the behavior of light with respect to the parameters of interest. The results of the tests and related research are discussed in this paper.