Optimal Anchor Deployment and Topology Design for Large-Scale AUV Navigation

Abstract: Seafloor acoustic anchors are an important component of AUV navigation, providing absolute updates that correct inertial dead-reckoning. Unlike terrestrial positioning systems, the deployment of underwater anchor nodes is usually sparse due to the uneven distribution of underwater users, as well as the high economic cost and difficult maintenance of underwater equipment. These anchor nodes lack satellite coverage and cannot form ubiquitous backhaul as terrestrial nodes do. In this paper, we investigate the optimal anchor deployment topology to provide high-quality AUV navigation and positioning services. We first analyze the possible deployment mode in large-scale underwater navigation system, and formulate a topology optimization for underwater anchor node deployment. Then, we derive a scaling law about the influence of anchors in each cluster on the navigation performance within a given area and demonstrate a service area coverage condition with a high probability of reaching the destination. Finally, the optimization performance is evaluated through experimental results.