Underwater acoustic sensor network localization using received signals power

This paper proposes a range-free localization scheme for Underwater Acoustic Sensor Networks (UW-ASNs) that uses an Autonomous Underwater Vehicle (AUV) equipped with a directional transceiver. In this scheme, AUV transmits its current position as it moves over sensors deployment area. Consequently each sensor node receives some signals. By measuring the received signals power and comparing them, the signal with maximum power can be found and its corresponding coordinate can be registered. Major advantage of this method is being robust against the loss of some signals as arrival time and exit time of AUV at communication range of the sensor nodes. Another feature of this localization method is being passive that results in energy-efficiency, and no need to time synchronization and distance estimation among the sensor nodes. Performance of the proposed localization method is evaluated by simulations using MATLAB. Simulation results show that the proposed method can localize more sensors with acceptable error than the other schemes.