A Collision-Avoided MAC Protocol With Time Synchronization and Power Control for Underwater Sensor Networks

Abstract

In recent years, there has been a great deal of interest in underwater sensor networks (UWSNs) because they can effectively monitor the submerged environment. However, due to the long delay, high bit error rate, and limited propagation bandwidth of underwater acoustic channels, the media access control (MAC) protocol cannot function effectively in underwater acoustic sensor networks, particularly in offshore waters. To solve these issues, an MAC protocol with time synchronization and power control (TSPC) is proposed for a particular scenario. In addition, the proposed protocol is a joint channel access scheme, and the central nodes are deployed on an offshore seabed, which can be used as a synchronization reference standard time. A power control strategy is also implemented to limit the communication range of nodes. In brief, integrating TSPC with layered concepts and distributed clustering algorithms can effectively prevent communication collisions and reduce the energy consumption of UWSNs. The simulation results indicate that the TSPC MAC protocol performs well with regard to packet transmission rate, synchronization error, collision-free operation, and energy consumption.