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Ethernet ROV Locator
Ethernet ROV Locator
  • ROV Locator
  • Overview
  • General Specifications
  • Quick Start for BlueROV
  • Fundamentals Useful to System Designers
    • Sound Reflection and Absorption
    • Multipath
    • Ping Length
    • What to Do About Multipath and Other Issues
    • Clock Drift Expectations
    • Accuracy Expectations
      • Accuracy Test: Topside GPS
      • Accuracy Test: 110 Meter Slant Range
      • Accuracy Test: 295 Meter Slant Range
    • Operation in a Pool
  • Configuring the ROVLe
    • Finding the Configuration Web Page
    • Example Configuration Web Page
    • Live Status Page
    • Setting Device Type
    • Setting the Static IP Address
    • Setting the Fallback IP Address
    • Setting the MAVLink REST Server Parameters
    • Setting the Secondary (GNSS) MAVLink Interface
    • GPS/GNSS Forwarding (Re-tweeting)
    • Magnetic Declination
    • CIMU Calibration Offsets
    • Speed of Sound
    • GNSS Antenna Mounting Rotation
    • Output Messages
    • Configure Simulation
  • System Variants
  • Autosync
    • Autosync Mission Scenarios and Mission Suitability
    • Autosync Availability
    • Autosync GPS/GNSS Output
    • ROVL Channels (Autosync only; Operating Multiple Units in Proximity)
  • Communicating With the ROVL
    • Serial Parameters
    • The Ethernet Interface
      • Tips on How to Find the IP Address Assigned to Your Ethernet Adapter
      • Blue Robotics Discovery Protocol (Ethernet Only)
    • Packet Format
    • Messages from ROVL to Host
      • $USRTH Receiver-Transmitter Relative Angles Message
      • $USTLC Target Location Message
      • $USINF/$USTXT Information Message
      • $USERR Error Message
      • $USNVM Non-Volatile Memory Message
    • Messages from Host to ROVL
      • NMEA-Format Messages to Receiver
      • Valid Commands from Host to ROVL, Serial and Ethernet
      • Valid Commands from Host to ROVL, Ethernet Only
        • Command: DHCP
        • Command: FALLBACK-ADDRESS
        • Command: IP-ADDRESS
        • Command: HOST-ADDRESS
        • Command: MAVLINK-ADDRESS
        • Command: MAVLINK-AUTO-ORIGIN
        • Command: MAVLINK-SYSID
        • Command: PAUSE
        • Command: RESUME
        • Command: RETWEET-GPS
        • Command: RETWEET-GPS-ADDRESS
        • Command: RETWEET-message
        • Command: SEND-ROV-POS-TO-MAP
        • Command: SEND-TOPSIDE-TO-MAP
        • Command: SEND-USRTH
        • Command: SEND-USTLC
        • Command: UNICAST-TO-ME
  • Cerulean Inertial Measurement Unit (CIMU)
    • CIMU Calibration Background
      • CIMU Magnetometer Calibration
      • CIMU Accelerometer Calibration
      • CIMU Gyro Calibration
  • Operating and Accuracy Considerations
  • Multi-Unit Operation (Swarms)
    • Multi-Unit 1:1
    • Multi-Unit 1:2
    • Multi-Unit 2x1:1
  • ROVL Mounting
    • ROV/Deepside Mounting
    • Topside Mounting
    • Simple Topside Deployment Fixture
  • ROVL Wiring
    • Standard Cabling Options
    • ROVL-e PC Board Internal Connections
      • JST-GH Connector Pin 1 Identification
      • Ethernet/Power Connections
      • Serial Connection
      • USB Connection
      • GNSS Compass Main (4-pin) RS-232 Connection
      • GNSS Compass RTK (2-pin) RS-422 Connection
    • Electrical Noise
  • Connecting and Powering Your ROVLe Ethernet Receiver or Transceiver
    • Example Power Injectors
    • Data Connection
    • Example Power/Wi-Fi Setup for Remote Usage
    • Battery
  • Mounting Dimensions
    • Mk II Receiver with Omnitrack Top
    • Transmitter/Transceiver/Receiver with Standard Top
    • Mk III Transcceiver
    • ROVLe Omnitrack Top
    • ROVLe Standard Top
    • Example Mounting Scheme with 3D-Printed Bracket
  • ROVL Coordinate Systems and Angles
    • Definitions
    • NED or "Compass" vs. ENU or "Math" Angles
    • Math to Compass Frame Conversions
    • Transducer Down Orientation
    • Transducer Up Orientation
    • Receiver/Transceiver Orientation Frames
    • Best Operating Envelope
  • Appendix: Math for Computing Remote Latitude/Longitude
    • Receiver & GPS at Topside and Transmitter Deepside
    • Transmitter & GPS Topside and Receiver Deepside
  • Appendix: Factory Usage Command Set
  • Troubleshooting
    • How to Tell if Your Mk II Receiver is Working
    • How to tell if your Mk II Transmitter is working
    • What to do when you find an unresolvable problem when troubleshooting
  • Copyright
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  1. Fundamentals Useful to System Designers

Multipath

A definition of multipath and some examples

PreviousSound Reflection and AbsorptionNextPing Length

Last updated 2 months ago

All sonar systems are affected by multipath, a phenomenon created by sonar signals following more than one path between a transmitter and receiver.

Multiple signal paths are created when a sonar signal reflects off one or more interfaces, and the reflected signal(s) combine with the direct-path signal causing constructive and destructive interference. The interference can create changes in the amplitude of the combined signal, and can also create changes in the phase of the received signal, when compared with the direct-only signal. Additionally, the combined signal may appear to arrive from a direction different than the original ping, which will cause location errors.

Generally, the more specular the reflecting surface, the more potential to interfere with the original signal and thus the operation of the ROVL. The good news about Lambertian reflection is that the energy of the incident sound is reflected in all directions, which means the energy in any given outbound ray is much smaller than the incident energy, and thus the potential to interfere is smaller.

The figure below shows the ideal operating conditions for the ROVL. The transmitter and receiver are suspended in deep water free of obstacles such that no reflection can reach the receiver before the entire original ping has been received. Of course, this is essentially an impossible constraint, but the closer you can come to achieving it the better the ROVL will work.

Note that slant range is measured from the arrival of the leading edge of the signal, so even if multipath interference is present, the slant range is normally accurate.

Many types of multipath (red lines) are possible. The red lines show various undesired paths the signal can take to interfere with the operation of the ROVL system.
Ideal ROVL operating conditions are when all reflected paths (red, orange, blue) are longer than the the direct signal path (green) by at least the length of the signal "ping". This example ignores any reflections created by the ROV itself.