MuLSi-Co: Multilayer Sinks and Cooperation-Based Data Routing Techniques for Underwater Acoustic Wireless Sensor Networks (UA-WSNs)

Designing an efficient, reliable, and stable algorithm for underwater acoustic wireless sensor networks (UA-WSNs) needs immense attention. It is due to their notable and distinctive challenges. To address the difficulties and challenges, the article introduces two algorithms: the multilayer sink (MuLSi) algorithm and its reliable version MuLSi-Co using the cooperation technique. The first algorithm proposes a multilayered network structure instead of a solid single structure and sinks placement at the optimal position, which reduces multiple hops communication. Moreover, the best forwarder selection amongst the nodes based on nodes’ closeness to the sink is a good choice. As a result, it makes the network perform better. Unlike the traditional algorithms, the proposed scheme does not need location information about nodes. However, the MuLSi algorithm does not fulfill the requirement of reliable operation due to a single link. Therefore, the MuLSi-Co algorithm utilizes nodes’collaborative behavior for reliable information. In cooperation, the receiver has multiple copies of the same data. Then, it combines these packets for the purpose of correct data reception. The data forwarding by the relay without any latency eliminates the synchronization problem. Moreover, the overhearing of the data gets rid of duplicate transmissions. The proposed schemes are superior in energy cost and reliable exchanging of data and have more alive and less dead nodes.

Ciphered BCH Codes for PAPR Reduction in the OFDM in Underwater Acoustic Channels

We propose an effective, low complexity and multifaceted scheme for peak-to-average power ratio (PAPR) reduction in the orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) system for underwater acoustic (UWA) channels. In UWA OFDM systems, PAPR reduction is a challenging task due to low bandwidth availability along with computational and power limitations. The proposed scheme takes advantage of XOR ciphering and generates ciphered Bose–Chaudhuri–Hocquenghem (BCH) codes that have low PAPR. This scheme is based upon an algorithm that computes several keys offline, such that when the BCH codes are XOR-ciphered with these keys, it lowers the PAPR of BCH-encoded signals. The subsequent low PAPR modified BCH codes produced using the chosen keys are used in transmission. This technique is ideal for UWA systems as it does not require additional computational power at the transceiver during live transmission. The advantage of the proposed scheme is threefold. First, it reduces the PAPR; second, since it uses BCH codes, the bit error rate (BER) of the system improves; and third, a level of encryption is introduced via XOR ciphering, enabling secure communication. Simulations were performed in a realistic UWA channel, and the results demonstrated that the proposed scheme could indeed achieve all three objectives with minimum computational power.

A Nonlinear Data-Driven Towed Array Shape Estimation Method Using Passive Underwater Acoustic Data

Large-aperture towed linear hydrophone array has been widely used for beamforming-based signal enhancement in passive sonar systems; however, its performance can drastically decrease due to the array distortion caused by rapid tactical maneuvers of the towed platform, oceanic currents, hydrodynamic effects, etc. In this paper, an enhanced data-driven shape array estimation scheme is provided in the passive underwater acoustic data, and a novel nonlinear outlier-robust particle filter (ORPF) method is proposed to acquire enhanced estimates of time delays in the presence of distorted hydrophone array. A conventional beamforming technique based on a hypothetical array is first used, and the detection of the narrow-band components is sequentially carried out so that the corresponding amplitudes and phases at these narrow-band components can be acquired. We convert the towed array estimation problem into a nonlinear discrete-time filtering problem with the joint estimates of amplitudes and time-delay differences, and then propose the ORPF method to acquire enhanced estimates of the time delays by exploiting the underlying properties of slowly changing time-delay differences across sensors. The proposed scheme fully exploits directional radiated noise targets as sources of opportunity for online array shape estimation, and thus it requires neither the number nor direction of sources to be known in advance. Both simulations and real experimental data show the effectiveness of the proposed method.