Experimental Estimation of Performance of Underwater Digital Network Based on Acoustic Modems with EviNS Software Framework

The paper presents a new engineering solution which considerably reduces costs for the development and operation of sonar sensor networks (SSN), while retaining small size and high level of energy saving for each of the network nodes (modems functioning as e.g. communication network devices, long-baseline bottom antenna units, etc.). The SSN performance parameters are shown for the mode being of interest, in particular, for positioning and navigation of autonomous unmanned underwater vehicles; delays in forwarding small datasets from the SSN, as well as probabilities of small datasets delivery from source for finite user are studied (e.g. control commands, sensor data, data on positions of long baseline units, and timing sequences). The solution is based on the design and introduction of special-purpose software framework EviNS (EvoLogics Intelligent Networking Software Framework) into the soft- and hardware platform of underwater acoustic modem (UAM). Results of experimental studies of digital SSN performance are demonstrated, where the SSN employs part of EviNS framework protocols, namely the combination of uncoordinated medium access protocol and routing protocol based on the network «flooding» algorithm with sequence number control (control of numbers of data packets and network forwarding nodes). The experimentally obtained values of probabilities and delays of data delivery from source to finite recipient provide the network user with the information necessary for planning the tasks of group interaction and online coordination of the SSN nodes, such as mobile nodes on underwater vehicles (at least in the SSN having the configuration and size similar to those described in the paper. 

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