A multihop data-gathering scheme using multiple AUVs in hierarchical underwater sensor networks

In this paper, we propose a scheme for multiple Autonomous Underwater Vehicles (AUVs) based data-gathering in large hierarchical underwater sensor networks where the AUVs constitute an intermittently connected multihop network through inter AUV synchronization. The variations in underwater currents severely affect the AUV mobility which affect the inter AUV synchronization and hence contributes to the delay in multihop communication. The proposed scheme reduces the AUV synchronization delay by using the neighboring AUVs information provided by sync-nodes at the static layer of the network. The performance of the proposed scheme is compared with conventional scheme using probability of AUV synchronization delay and average end-to-end packet delay. Simulation results show that the proposed scheme reduces the inter AUV synchronization delay caused by varying AUV mobility parameters.