Mote-based underwater sensor networks: opportunities, challenges, and guidelines

Most underwater networks rely on expensive specialized hardware for acoustic communication and modulation. This has impeded wide scale deployments of underwater sensor networks and has forced researchers to use simulations to investigate these systems. To address these issues, this paper examines a system that integrates off-the-shelf acoustic hardware built-in to sensor modules with software modems for establishing underwater acoustic links. Because the hardware in our system is readily available, we have conducted several rounds of field experiments to evaluate it. Building on our recent field experiments in a river, canal, pond, and swimming pool, this paper outlines the technical and logistical challenges for deploying software-driven underwater sensor networks. The design choices include methods for signal modulation at the sender, and symbol synchronization, signal filtering, and signal demodulation at the receiver. We also discuss higher layer communication protocol issues, with...

• Type: Journal
• Year: 2008
• Where: TELSYS
• Authors: Raja Jurdak, Antonio G. Ruzzelli, Gregory M. P. O'Hare, Cristina Videira Lopes
• Keywords: Most Underwater Networks, Software-driven Underwater Sensor, TELSYS 2008, Underwater Sensor Networks