Sensor Systems and Software. 4th International ICST Conference, S-Cube 2013, Lucca, Italy, June 11-12, 2013, Revised Selected Papers

Research Article

Underwater Sensor Networks with Mobile Agents: Experience from the Field

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  • @INPROCEEDINGS{10.1007/978-3-319-04166-7_6,
        author={Andrea Caiti and Vincenzo Calabr\'{o} and Andrea Munaf\'{o}},
        title={Underwater Sensor Networks with Mobile Agents: Experience from the Field},
        proceedings={Sensor Systems and Software. 4th International ICST Conference, S-Cube 2013, Lucca, Italy, June 11-12, 2013, Revised Selected Papers},
        proceedings_a={S-CUBE},
        year={2014},
        month={6},
        keywords={Underwater mobile sensor networks Autonomous systems Multi-agent systems Underwater acoustic communication Autonomous Underwater Vehicles (AUVs)},
        doi={10.1007/978-3-319-04166-7_6}
    }
    
  • Andrea Caiti
    Vincenzo Calabrò
    Andrea Munafò
    Year: 2014
    Underwater Sensor Networks with Mobile Agents: Experience from the Field
    S-CUBE
    Springer
    DOI: 10.1007/978-3-319-04166-7_6
Andrea Caiti1,*, Vincenzo Calabrò1,*, Andrea Munafò1,*
  • 1: University of Pisa
*Contact email: caiti@dsea.unipi.it, v.calabro@dsea.unipi.it, munafo@dsea.unipi.it

Abstract

This paper reports the experimental results obtained by two research projects, UAN and Thesaurus, in which two different network communication schemes have been implemented in the context of underwater robots cooperation. UAN implemented a complex layered communication scheme including collision avoidance medium access, node addressing and routing strategies, and mobile nodes as adaptable network components able to sustain the communication. Thesaurus is deploying a Time Division Multiplexing network with the explicit objective of supporting the robotic exploration of deep water archaeological sites. The paper examines the approaches and challenges in the design and implementation of both underwater sensor networks. It discusses how the specific application influenced the design and the operation of the communication protocols at the various network layers. Field results are presented to discuss how the network structure impacts on the underwater robot cooperation and on the overall sensing network performance.