Underwater acoustic networks environment simulation with combination of BELLHOP and OPNET modeler

Abstract

Network simulation is highly indispensable for underwater acoustic network design and research. OPNET Modeler is efficient and popular in terrestrial wireless network simulation, however, suffering from no reasonable and suitable underwater acoustic channel model. Thus most of the network simulation for underwater acoustic networks only focus on routing and MAC protocols but ignore the realistic simulation of physical layer. Thus the results can not precisely reflect the performance of the protocol. In this paper, we take full consideration of the characteristics of underwater acoustic channel such as multipath effect, oceanic noise and frequency-selective fading. A collaborated simulation method is presented for underwater acoustic network simulation, by exploiting the combined advantages of BELLHOP and OPNET Modeler, which could provide a realistic and elaborate underwater acoustic network simulation environment.