Pair Nodes Clock Synchronization Algorithm Based on Kalman Filter for Underwater Wireless Sensor Networks

Time synchronization is the basis of many applications. Aiming at the limitations of the existing clock synchronization algorithms in underwater wireless sensor networks, we propose a pairwise synchronization algorithm called K-Sync, which is based on the Kalman filter. The algorithm does not need the assistance of the position sensor or the speed sensor, and the high time synchronization accuracy can be realized only by utilizing the time-stamps information in the process of message exchange. The K-Sync uses the general constraints of the motion characteristics of the sensor nodes to establish the recursive equations of the clock skew, clock offset, relative mobility velocity, and relative distance. At the same time, the time-stamps are viewed as the observation variables and the system observation equation is obtained. The K-Sync estimates the normalized clock skew and offset of the node via the Kalman filter to achieve high-precision clock synchronization between the two nodes. The simulation shows that the K-Sync has obvious advantages in the key indicators such as the estimated accuracy of clock skew and clock offset, convergence speed, etc. In addition, the K-Sync is more robust to a variety of underwater motion scenes.

Automated summary

K-Sync is a pairwise synchronization algorithm for underwater wireless sensor networks based on the Kalman filter, which enables high-precision clock synchronization without the need for assistance from position or speed sensors. It shows obvious advantages in key indicators such as estimated accuracy of clock skew and offset, convergence speed, etc., and is more robust to various underwater motion scenes.