Design of a communication protocol for underwater acoustic modems and networks

This article presents the authors contribution to the definition of underwater acoustic modem networks. The protocol presented is characterized by a strong adaptability. This adaptability is present at three different levels, namely, at the physical layer level (adaptive modulation, characterization of the channel), at the data link layer (acknowledgement or not, coding or not...) as well as at the network layer (adaptive routing, management of priorities..etc.).