Toward the Internet of Underwater Things: Recent Developments and Future Challenges

This article introduces the latest advancements in the field of Internet of Underwater Things (IoUT) with importance toward the technological aspects for communication and location awareness. The IoUT is composed of underwater devices such as sensor nodes with defined communication and networking protocols. The IoUT framework integrates various marine communication technologies based on acoustic waves, radio waves, optical waves, and magnetic induction. This new framework enables multiple applications, including ocean exploration, assisted navigation, location awareness, and environmental pollution control. Hence, this article provides state-of-the-art communication technologies and consumer electronics aspect for implementing the IoUT network. Furthermore, this article also states the recent advancements in IoUT and its useful applications in the underwater environment. Moreover, we also classify various research requirements and challenges concerning the efficient design and proper implementation of IoUT networks.