Ad-Hoc Multi-hop Underwater Optical Network for Deep Ocean Monitoring

We present a fully ad-hoc, optical multi-hop underwater optical sensor network. All network nodes are identical, uncabled and battery operated with the exception of the master node which represents the terminal link to land for real-time monitoring capability. Multi-hop functionality allows for high-bandwidth underwater communication without sacrificing range. Ad-hoc capability allows for nodes to dynamically enter and exit the network, forming arbitrary topologies. Onboard sensors imbue every network node with monitoring capability. Redundant onboard data storage and automatic rerouting of communication paths create a mesh sensing network ideal for high-density, large-area sensor networks deployed to regions with high-risk of node loss and intermittent connectivity. Multi-hop and dynamic ad-hoc capabilities were tested in salt-water pools. The communications algorithm and high-level node design are presented.