Impact of acoustic signal on optical signal and vice versa in optoacoustic based underwater localization

Underwater localization is an important process in order to determine the approximate location of a deployed underwater tool such as different types of underwater vehicle. A common underwater localization depends on acoustic signal, but it has disadvantages of high development cost, slow propagation speed, high attenuation and only works effectively at a long distance. Optic is an alternative approach for underwater localization. Optical signal has advantages of low cost and high propagation speed, but it has the disadvantage of shorter detection range compared to an acoustic signal. A combination of both approaches is known as an optoacoustic which eliminates the disadvantages of each individual approach and can be used for both short and long distance localizations. However, since both signals are travelling waves, the use of both signals simultaneously may introduce interferences. This paper investigates this possibility through experimentation. The results of investigation proved that the interference does exist when both signals are used simultaneously underwater.