Adaptive Channel Equalization Method Based on VARS-RLS in Underwater Acoustic Environment

Hydroacoustic communication, as one of the main technical methods for underwater communication, faces interference from various noise signals in the underwater environment, which affects the reliability and quality of communication. In this paper, a Variable Adaptive Rate Sparse Robust RLS (VARS-RLS) algorithm is proposed for processing hydroacoustic communication signals, based on the sparse RLS algorithm and robust RLS algorithm, incorporating an adaptive step size adjustment strategy based on the error rate of change. The VARS-RLS algorithm combines sparsity, robustness, and the adaptive step size adjustment strategy based on the error change rate, effectively addressing the high delay spread, strong multipath interference, and time-varying characteristics in hydroacoustic channels, making it suitable for channel equalization tasks. By dynamically adjusting the step size and introducing a robust loss function, the algorithm demonstrates strong noise immunity in hydroacoustic environments. Experimental results show that the proposed VARS-RLS algorithm significantly improves communication quality in hydroacoustic communication systems and provides an effective solution for reliable communication in underwater environments.