International Journal of Science, Engineering and TechnologyAuthors: Assistant Professor Namrata D. Ghuse, Mayur D. Chaudhari
Abstract: The Internet of Underwater Things (IoUT) is an emerging paradigm that extends IoT technology to underwater environments for applications such as environmental monitoring, ocean exploration, and disaster prevention. However, underwater communication remains a major challenge due to high latency, limited bandwidth, and the difficulty of conducting sea trials. This review paper presents a comprehensive analysis of recent research developments in underwater acoustic communication (UAC) technologies that support IoUT infrastructure. Various studies highlight advancements in shared communication frameworks, reconfigurable hardware systems, and adaptive signal processing algorithms aimed at enhancing data transmission reliability and synchronization accuracy. Techniques such as satellite-based timing synchronization, hybrid acoustic–optical models, and learning-based optimization have demonstrated potential to improve performance under dynamic underwater conditions. Building upon the Shared Underwater Acoustic Communication Layer (SUACL) concept, this paper proposes an AI-driven hybrid acoustic–optical framework that enhances adaptability, synchronization, and energy efficiency in IoUT environments. The study identifies key research trends, evaluates comparative performances of existing methods, and discusses open challenges including high energy consumption, complex channel modeling, and security issues. Finally, it outlines future research directions focused on developing scalable, intelligent, and interoperable communication layers for real-world IoUT deployment.
