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Communication In Fluid Medium Using Motor Modulation, Brian Butka, Jefferson Romney

Publications

Aquatic vehicles may use electric motors for propulsion, such as brushless motors. As an example, a speed of these motors can be controlled using a pulse-width-modulated (PWM) electrical signal that varies the motor speed by varying pulse parameters within the PWM signal. PMW modulation can cause the motor to emit significant acoustic noise into the environment. In a fluid medium, such as aquatic environment, such noise can be detected with hydro­phones or other acoustic sensors. The subject matter described herein can include modulating a signal provided to a motor to provide a communication signal to be mechani­cally (e.g., acoustically) emitted …