Reliable Data Collection Techniques in Underwater Wireless Sensor Networks: A Survey

Abstract

Reliable data collection techniques, whose aim is to ensure that sensed data are received successfully by a sink, are essential for applications in Underwater Wireless Sensor Networks (UWSNs). However, traditional data collection with Radio Frequency (RF) functions poorly in UWSNs due to peculiar features of underwater. Moreover, acoustic communication creates challenges for the reliability of data collection such as high bit error rate, packet collision and voids in routing. Furthermore, the deployment of Autonomous Underwater Vehicles (AUVs) in some scenarios changed the paradigm of data collection and introduced new issues that affect reliability such as inaccurate navigation and lengthy travel time. Consequently, numerous studies focus on the relative reliability of various currently available data collection in UWSNs. In this paper, we first review the problems specific to UWSNs and their impact on reliable data collection. It is followed by a discussion about characteristics, challenges, and features associated with the design of reliable techniques in UWSNs. Afterward, to provide readers with an overview of reliable data collection techniques in UWSNs, this paper categorizes them according to their ability to enhance reliability at all the key stages of data collection. In this categorization framework, the advantages and disadvantages of each technique have been in-depth discussed. Finally, several possible areas for further research are identified and discussed.

AUV-Aided Optical—Acoustic Hybrid Data Collection Based on Deep Reinforcement Learning

“…Accompanied by the increasing demand for ocean exploration and protection, underwater sensor networks (UWSNs) have received more attention as these play an important role in diverse marine applications, such as coastal monitoring and protection, marine resource exploration, disaster warning and military operations [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]. However, due to the harsh hydrographic and geographical environment, it is difficult to collect data from underwater sensor devices via a long-range routing path.…”

Environment-Aware AUV Trajectory Design and Resource Management for Multi-Tier Underwater Computing

“…As a remedy, underwater acoustic communications (UAC) [3], [4] are widely adopted, but it still remains unrealistic for energylimited IoUT devices to directly transmit their collected data to a surface-station through long-distance propagation, because ten-times higher transmit power is required compared to RFbased communications. To cope with this issue, autonomous underwater vehicles (AUV) have been widely adopted for data collection in underwater environments [5], [6].…”

Hybrid Particle Swarm Optimization-based Modeling of Wireless Sensor Network Coverage Optimization

“…As a communication transmission technology under the development of modern network technology, wireless sensor networks (WSN) can freely connect and combine a large number of sensor nodes through wireless communication, forming a communication network. It integrates three information functions through information collection module, information transmission module, and information processing module to achieve coverage and integrated information processing [1][2][3]. So far, in order to improve the coverage effect of wireless sensor networks, a variety of different types of intelligent algorithms have been used as optimization tools.…”