EE-UWSNs: A Joint Energy-Efficient MAC and Routing Protocol for Underwater Sensor Networks

• Published in: Journal of marine science and engineering Vol. 10; no. 4; p. 488
• Main Authors: Alablani, Ibtihal Ahmed, Arafah, Mohammed Amer
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Basel MDPI AG 01.04.2022
• Subjects: Access control; Acoustics; Algorithms; Balancing; Bandwidths; Code Division Multiple Access; cone angle; Data transmission; Energy consumption; Energy efficiency; energy efficient; Energy resources; Energy sources; Inactivation; inactive nodes; Internet of Things; Networks; Noise; Oceans; power levels; Principles; Propagation; Sensors; Simulation; Simulators; Solar energy; Underwater; Underwater detectors; underwater sensor networks; Wireless networks
• ISSN: 2077-1312; 2077-1312
• DOI: 10.3390/jmse10040488

In Underwater Sensor Networks (UWSNs), the energy sources of sensor nodes are limited and difficult to recharge and solar energy cannot be used in that environment. The power issue is one of the most significant constraints in underwater sensor networks and energy balancing is essential to prolong the network lifetime. The MAC/routing protocols that are used in other types of networks may not be suitable for UWSNs due to their unique characteristics. This paper aims to overcome the energy problem by developing a new MAC/routing protocol for UWSNs called the Energy-Efficient protocol for UWSNs (EE-UWSNs). It is based on five principles to save sensor energy and to prolong the lifetime of UWSNs. These principles are using finite levels of power, applying the multi-hops transmission, narrowing the scope of transmission, applying inactivation mode, and balancing energy consumption. Using the AUVNetSim simulator, which is a Python project developed by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), the proposed EE-UWSNs protocol was compared with well-known protocols. Simulation results proved that the proposed protocol reduces the average energy consumption of sensors by up to 68.49% compared with the other protocols. Furthermore, the average number of collisions and the end-to-end delay are enhanced.