LBL System for Underwater Acoustic Positioning: Concept and Equations

TL;DR

This paper introduces a Long Base Line (LBL) underwater acoustic positioning system that uses hyperbolic methods based on time differences, enabling GNSS-like positioning underwater without requiring highly accurate clocks.

Contribution

The paper presents a novel LBL acoustic system for underwater positioning that does not depend on precise clock synchronization, unlike previous methods.

Findings

System enables underwater positioning without atomic clocks

Uses hyperbolic time difference methods

Applicable for GNSS-like positioning underwater

Abstract

GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite System) positioning is not available underwater due to the very short range of electromagnetic waves in the sea water medium. In this article a LBL (Long Base Line) acoustic repeater system of the GNSS positioning is presented. The system is hyperbolic, i.e., based on time differences and it does not need very accurate atomic clocks to synchronize repeaters.