Underwater Acoustic Networks (UAN)

Overview:

NetSim’s Underwater acoustic networks library enables users to design, simulate and analyze performance of underwater networks that use acoustic communication.

Features

• Architecture & Integration
  • Seamless integration with other NetSim components.
  • NetSim Component #12 is Underwater Acoustic Networks (UWAN).
  • Available with the standard and pro versions.
  • Dependency: Requires Component #2 (Legacy Networks) for operation.
  • Emulation capability available
• Network Stack
  • Entire 5-layer TCP/IP network stack is modelled in each device
• L5 - Application Layer
  • Offers a sensor application designed with small packet sizes and large inter-arrival times, suitable for underwater applications.
  • Supports other NetSim applications like voice, video, FTP, etc. Users should consider the very low bit rates typical of UWANs.
• L4 - Transport layer
  • Implements the UDP protocol.
• L3 - Network layer
  • Single-hop transmissions require no routing configuration.
  • For multi-hop transmissions, static routing configuration is necessary.
  • Ad hoc (MANET) routing is on the roadmap for future releases.
  • Devices can currently communicate only within the UWAN. External connectivity via a gateway is under development for future releases.
• L2 - MAC layer
  • Uses the Slotted Aloha protocol.
  • TDMA/DTDMA protocols are planned for future updates.
• L1 - PHY Layer
  • Features the Underwater Acoustic PHY Model.
  • Considers propagation delay based on the speed of sound influenced by water temperature, depth, and salinity.
  • Supports modulation schemes: BPSK, QPSK, FSK, 16-QAM, 32-QAM, and 64-QAM.
  • Allows user-configurable data rates and bandwidth.
  • Utilizes SNR for packet reception, calculating BER from SNR-BER curves after factoring in propagation losses.
  • Implements the Thorp Propagation Model, allowing users to configure parameters such as temperature, depth, salinity, surface wind speed, turbulence, and shipping noise.
• Typical simulation parameters
  • Source Level: 170-225 dB//1 𝜇𝑃a
  • Antenna Gain
  • Forward error correction coding
  • Coding Rates: 1/2, 2/3,3/4,5/6
  • Frequency: 0.01 to 1000kHz
  • Data Rate upto 255 kbps
  • Min Receiver Sensitivity -120 dB//1 𝜇𝑃a
  • Bandwidth upto 1000 Hz
• Mobility Models for Underwater Sensors
  Users have the ability to configure different mobility models for underwater sensors, including:
  • Random Waypoint
  • Random Walk
  • File-Based
• Statistics Overview
  NetSim provides detailed summary statistics that cover various metrics:
  • Throughput
  • Delay
  • Error rates
  Both at the link level and on a per-application basis.
• Trace and logs
  • NetSim offers comprehensive packet and event tracing capabilities, allowing for deep network analysis and performance evaluation.
  • Acoustic measurement log that records Tx-Rx Distance, Tx Power, Pathloss, Total Noise, SNR, Rx Power and BER for each transmission
• Source Code Accessibility
  • Protocol source C codes are provided.
  • Users can adapt the underlying codes using the MS Visual Studio development environment for specific requirements or enhancements.
• Integration Capabilities
  • NetSim supports socket-based external interfacing to MATLAB, allowing users to expand their simulation and analysis capabilities.

Useful Links

• Detailed documentation(PDF 1MB)