A COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS ON SELECTIVE MAC PROTOCOLS FORUNDERWATER WIRELESS SENSOR NETWORK

Abstract

The underwater sensor communication supports a large number of applications, like,
oceanographic data collection, pollution monitoring, offshore exploration, disaster prevention,
navigation and tactical surveillance data collection. In Underwater Acoustic Sensor Network
(UASN), sensor nodes are deployed to a given area to do collaborative work. Underwater
communication relies mainly on acoustic waves. Limited bandwidth, high propagation delay, high
bit error rates and limited battery power etc are the major communication challenges for
underwater communications. These issues pose great challenges in underwater Media Access
Control (MAC) protocol design. Although many novel protocols are designed for terrestrial MAC
protocols but they perform inefficiently when deployed directly in an underwater environment. On
the other hand, a range of MAC protocols has been explored in underwater networks to meet
certain communication criteria. In this paper, several contentions based and contention free MAC
protocols have been studied to understand major trend of MAC protocol developments. Special
focus is given on MACA based protocols. Relative advantages and disadvantages of the discussed
protocols are also highlighted and future research scope is also explored.