Current Status and Future Prospects of Underwater Wireless Sensor Networks

Underwater wireless sensor networks are essential for ocean exploration and military use. Acoustic communication is the predominant method due to the unique underwater conditions, though challenges like low bandwidth and multipath effects hinder its effectiveness. Terrestrial communication protocols are not directly applicable underwater, making network security and stable data transmission critical research areas. This paper reviews underwater sensor network communication technologies, architectures, protocol stacks, and security challenges, assessing the suitability of various communication methods and the components of these networks. It also analyzes the main topological structures and the security risks across the physical, data link, network, transport, and application layers. Additionally, the paper investigates positioning and navigation technologies in underwater communications and their future applications. Advancements in underwater optical communication and the development of intelligent underwater networks and the underwater Internet of Things (IoUT) are identified as key future directions.