The challenges of building scalable mobile underwater wireless sensor networks for aquatic applications

TLDR

Large‑scale mobile underwater wireless sensor networks are a novel paradigm for exploring aqueous environments, but their low bandwidth, long propagation delays, node mobility, and high error rates differ markedly from terrestrial sensor networks and pose interdisciplinary challenges. This article adopts a top‑down approach to investigate the research challenges inherent in designing mobile UWSNs. The authors analyze each layer of the protocol stack—from application to physical—identifying new design intricacies at every level. They conclude that scalable mobile UWSNs can only be achieved through interdisciplinary collaboration among acoustic communications, signal processing, and mobile acoustic network protocol design.

Abstract

The large-scale mobile underwater wireless sensor network (UWSN) is a novel networking paradigm to explore aqueous environments. However, the characteristics of mobile UWSNs, such as low communication bandwidth, large propagation delay, floating node mobility, and high error probability, are significantly different from ground-based wireless sensor networks. The novel networking paradigm poses interdisciplinary challenges that will require new technological solutions. In particular, in this article we adopt a top-down approach to explore the research challenges in mobile UWSN design. Along the layered protocol stack, we proceed roughly from the top application layer to the bottom physical layer. At each layer, a set of new design intricacies is studied. The conclusion is that building scalable mobile UWSNs is a challenge that must be answered by interdisciplinary efforts of acoustic communications, signal processing, and mobile acoustic network protocol design.