Shallow-Water Acoustic Networks†

Underwater acoustic networks are generally formed by acoustically connected ocean bottom sensor nodes, autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs), and surface stations that serve as gateways and provide radio communication links to on-shore stations. The QoS of such networks is limited by the low bandwidth of acoustic transmission channels, high latency resulting from the slow propagation of sound, and elevated noise levels in some environments. The long-term goal in the design of underwater acoustic networks is to provide for a self-configuring network of distributed nodes with network links that automatically adapt to the environment through selection of the optimum system parameters. This paper considers several aspects in the design of shallow water acoustic networks that maximize throughput and reliability while minimizing power consumption. Keywords: underwater; acoustic; communications; network; media access control (MAC); routing; ad hoc; Seaweb