Cover：Zhang Y F, Li X, Lv W C, et al. Link structure of underwater wireless optical communication and progress on performance optimization[J]. Opto-Electronic Engineering, 2020, 47(9): 190734 

The development of the autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) promotes exploration of the ocean.Traditional underwater communication with cables limits the flexibility of AUVs and the installation and maintenance of cables are very difficult. Underwater wireless communication (UWOC) with high bandwidth and strong anti-electromagnetic interference ability has a promising application prospect in underwater applications. However, the absorption and scattering of light signals by sea water and the complex underwater environment limit the transmission distance and communication quality of UWOC. A review article of the research group of Professor Xu Jing from the optical communication laboratory of ocean College, Zhejiang University, first introduced some relatively representative research results of UWOC, and summarized the key technologies in these researches. Then, the basic structure of an UWOC link was introduced, and the existing technologies and research progress were analyzed from three aspects of transmitters, receivers and channel characteristics.