Optoacoustic Signal-Based Underwater Node Localization Technique: Overcoming GPS Limitations without AUV Requirements

Underwater sensor networks are anticipated to facilitate numerous commercial and military applications. Moreover, precise self-localization in practical underwater scenario is a crucial challenge in sensor networks because of the complexity of deploying sensor points in specific locations. The Global Positioning System (GPS) is inappropriate for underwater localization because saline water may severely attenuate signal, limiting penetration capacity to barely a few meters. Hence, the most promising alternative to wireless radio wave transmissions for underwater networks is regarded as acoustic communication. In order to establish an underwater localization model, traditional techniques that essentially include surface gateways or intermediate anchor nodes create logistical challenges and security hazards when the surface access points are deployed. This paper proposes a unique localization method that employs optoacoustic signals to remotely localize underwater wireless sensor networks in order to address these concerns. In our model, the GPS signals are transmitted from the air to the underwater node through a mobile beacon that employs optoacoustic techniques to generate a short-term isotropic acoustic signal source. Underwater nodes with omnidirectional receivers can detect their location in random and realistic environments by comparing signal levels from two equivalent plasmas, also referred as acoustic source nodes. Finally, the software simulation results in comparison to the proposed theoretical model highlight the feasibility of our approach. In comparison to complicated traditional node localization approach, our simplified approach is anticipated to achieve better accuracy with only a single off-water controlled node, while avoiding the additional requirement for surface anchor nodes.