Challenges and Design of Mac Protocol for Underwater Acoustic Sensor Networks

Abstract

This paper reviews the main challenges posed by the underwater environment for the development of efficient under water sensor networking solutions and proposes a novel medium access control (MAC) protocol with power control to increase efficiency and save on energy. Underwater channel is characterized by high propagation delay, limited bandwidth capacity, variable delays, frequency dependent attenuation, noise, fading, and doppler spread. Although there has been extensive research in land-based sensor networks, due to the unique characteristics of underwater sensor networks (UWSNs) new research at almost every level of the protocol suite is required. An efficient MAC protocol with power control for delay tolerant applications is analyzed and simulated. Proposed MAC protocol is different from those already existing as it encompasses power control mechanism to increase energy efficiency and save on power.