A hybrid routing protocol for underwater acoustic networks

A hybrid routing protocol, MPR-Light, significantly improves the efficiency and energy consumption of underwater acoustic networks without compromising performance. By integrating the robustness of flooding solutions with the relay selection strategies of Multi-Point Relay (MPR), this approach reduces network overhead while maintaining or enhancing packet delivery ratios and end-to-end latency. Field trials conducted off the coast of Palmaria Island, Italy, demonstrated that MPR-Light outperforms traditional protocols like MPR and Enhanced Flooding (EFlood) in real-world conditions, offering a scalable solution for reliable underwater communication.

Petroccia, R., & Alves, J. (2018). A hybrid routing protocol for underwater acoustic networks. 2018 17th Annual Mediterranean Ad Hoc Networking Workshop (Med-Hoc-Net), 1–8. https://doi.org/10.23919/medhocnet.2018.8407083