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Enhancement of geometry-based time synchronization (UWGS) with packet loss management under dynamic node trajectories in underwater acoustic networks
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Authors: Matin Ghalkhani, Jianyu Zhang, Filippo Campagnaro, Michele Zorzi
Status: Final
Date of publication: 27 March 2026
Published in: ITU Journal on Future and Evolving Technologies, Volume 7 (2026), Issue 1, Pages 22-37
Article DOI : https://doi.org/10.52953/XQTS2777
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Abstract:
In underwater networks, achieving precise time synchronization is essential for various critical functions, such as localization and channel access. However, synchronization remains a significant challenge due to substantial propagation delays and the mobility of nodes in underwater environments. While existing methods like D-Sync [1], Mobi-Sync [2], and MU-Sync [3] have been developed to address these issues in dynamic underwater settings, they primarily depend on estimating the radial velocity using Doppler shift effects. Additionally, these protocols often involve two-way message exchanges, which contribute to increased signaling overhead and response delays. In our previous study [4], we introduced a novel time synchronization approach based on the geometric shape of movement. This method, which we call Underwater Geometry-Based Synchronization (UWGS), employs a geometric framework to optimally estimate clock skew and offset for an unsynchronized node. Unlike traditional approaches that estimate radial velocity using Doppler shift, UWGS utilizes multiple one-way pulse signals to establish a geometric relationship between node velocity and range, and its preliminary evolution in [4] depicted simulated results in ideal conditions. In this paper, we further investigate the functionality of UWGS and compare its performance with existing methods, such as D-Sync, under more challenging and realistic conditions. Specifically, we consider the presence of random Gaussian noise in the motion of a mobile node and a non-ideal, slightly curved trajectory instead of the straight-line motion assumed in previous studies. Furthermore, we examine the impact of packet loss to assess whether UWGS provides improvements in synchronization accuracy and efficiency across a range of realistic underwater environments. |
Keywords: Doppler-based time correction, geometry-based time synchronization, mobile underwater nodes, time synchronization, UWGS
Rights: © International Telecommunication Union, available under the CC BY-NC-ND 3.0 IGO license.
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