My publications focus on underwater networking, secure and trustworthy communications, intelligent routing and data collection, underwater perception, and learning-enabled communication systems. For the latest citation counts and updates, please visit my Google Scholar profile.

Author notation: R. Zhu denotes Rongxin Zhu; * denotes corresponding author.

Selected Publications

  1. R. Zhu, L. Sheng, K. Wu, et al., “Toward Efficient Underwater Visual Perception through Image Enhancement, Compression, and Understanding,” ACM Computing Surveys, 2025. DOI
    Comprehensive survey of underwater visual enhancement, compression, and understanding.

  2. R. Zhu, A. Boukerche, L. Long, and Q. Yang, “Design Guidelines on Trust Management for Underwater Wireless Sensor Networks,” IEEE Communications Surveys & Tutorials, vol. 26, no. 4, pp. 2547–2576, 2024.
    Systematic design guidelines for trust management in underwater networks.

  3. R. Zhu, W. Li, A. Boukerche, and Q. Yang, “Energy-Aware DRL-Based Dual-Perception Fountain Codes for Resource-Constrained UASNs,” IEEE Transactions on Sustainable Computing, vol. 11, no. 2, pp. 111–122, 2026. DOI
    Deep-reinforcement-learning-enabled reliable coding for resource-constrained underwater networks.

  4. R. Zhu, D. Qin, A. Boukerche, and Q. Yang, “PIA-GAN: A Physics-Informed Attention Generative Adversarial Network for Underwater Acoustic Channel Simulation,” Computer Networks, vol. 286, Art. no. 112397, 2026. DOI
    Physics-informed generative modeling of underwater acoustic channels.

  5. R. Zhu, A. Boukerche, and Q. Yang, “An Efficient Secure and Adaptive Routing Protocol Based on GMM-HMM-LSTM for Internet of Underwater Things,” IEEE Internet of Things Journal, vol. 11, no. 9, pp. 16491–16504, 2024. DOI
    Learning-based secure and adaptive routing for the Internet of Underwater Things.

  6. R. Zhu, A. Boukerche, and Q. Yang, “An Interference-Aware and Collision-Free MAC Protocol for Underwater Wireless Sensor Networks,” ACM Transactions on Sensor Networks, vol. 21, no. 3, pp. 1–26, 2025. DOI
    Interference-aware medium access control for large-scale underwater deployments.

  7. R. Zhu, Q. Jiang, X. Huang, D. Li, and Q. Yang, “A Reinforcement-Learning-Based Opportunistic Routing Protocol for Energy-Efficient and Void-Avoided UASNs,” IEEE Sensors Journal, vol. 22, no. 13, pp. 13589–13601, 2022.
    Reinforcement-learning-based opportunistic routing with energy and void avoidance objectives.

  8. R. Zhu, A. Boukerche, L. Feng, and Q. Yang, “A Trust Management-Based Secure Routing Protocol with AUV-Aided Path Repairing for Underwater Acoustic Sensor Networks,” Ad Hoc Networks, Art. no. 103212, 2023. DOI
    Secure routing with trust management and autonomous-underwater-vehicle-assisted path repair.

Publications by Year

2026

Journal Articles

  1. Y. Ma, Q. Yang, and R. Zhu, “Underwater Image Enhancement via Deep Modeling with Frequency Decomposition,” Journal of King Saud University – Computer and Information Sciences, 2026. DOI
  2. R. Zhu, D. Qin, A. Boukerche, and Q. Yang, “PIA-GAN: A Physics-Informed Attention Generative Adversarial Network for Underwater Acoustic Channel Simulation,” Computer Networks, vol. 286, Art. no. 112397, 2026. DOI
  3. Q. Yang, Z. Tang, R. Zhu*, P. Li, and X. Huang, “RSSD-Based Underwater Node Localization with EM-Driven NLOS Identification and Adaptive Weighted Loss Modeling,” IEEE Internet of Things Journal, early access, 2026. DOI
  4. Y. Ma, Q. Yang, R. Zhu, Y. Li, and M. M. A. Wahab, “Underwater Image Enhancement via Dual-Path Frequency-Domain Fusion Network,” IEEE Transactions on Circuits and Systems for Video Technology, early access, 2026. DOI
  5. R. Zhu, W. Li, A. Boukerche, and Q. Yang, “Energy-Aware DRL-Based Dual-Perception Fountain Codes for Resource-Constrained UASNs,” IEEE Transactions on Sustainable Computing, vol. 11, no. 2, pp. 111–122, 2026. DOI

2025

Journal Articles

  1. R. Zhu, L. Sheng, K. Wu, et al., “Toward Efficient Underwater Visual Perception through Image Enhancement, Compression, and Understanding,” ACM Computing Surveys, 2025. DOI
  2. Y. Chen, R. Zhu*, A. Boukerche, and Q. Yang, “AUV-Assisted Data Collection Using Hybrid Clustering and Reinforcement Learning in Underwater Acoustic Sensor Networks,” Ad Hoc Networks, Art. no. 103877, 2025.
  3. R. Zhu, A. Boukerche, and Q. Yang, “An Interference-Aware and Collision-Free MAC Protocol for Underwater Wireless Sensor Networks,” ACM Transactions on Sensor Networks, vol. 21, no. 3, pp. 1–26, 2025. DOI
  4. L. Xue, H. Lei*, and R. Zhu*, “A Collision Avoidance MAC Protocol with Power Control for Adaptive Clustering Underwater Sensor Networks,” Journal of Marine Science and Engineering, vol. 13, no. 1, Art. no. 76, 2025. DOI
  5. Y. Chen, Z. Li, and R. Zhu*, “A Blockchain-Based Edge Computing Group Signature Authentication Model for Underwater Clustered Networks,” Journal of Marine Science and Engineering, vol. 13, no. 1, Art. no. 27, 2025. DOI

Conference Papers and Book Chapters

  1. H. Mai, R. Zhu, A. Boukerche, and Q. Yang, “A Dual-Layer Trust Model Based on Digital Twins for Underwater Acoustic Sensor Networks,” in Proceedings of IEEE GLOBECOM, 2025. DOI
  2. W. Li, R. Xie, Q. Yang, et al., R. Zhu, “DRL-OFC: A Dual-Perception Online Fountain Coding Scheme for Underwater Acoustic Sensor Networks,” in Proceedings of ACM/IEEE MSWiM, 2025. DOI
  3. P. Li, Q. Yang, S. Chan, D. Qin, A. Boukerche, and R. Zhu, “DV-Hop Localization Algorithm Optimized by NSGA-II for UWSNs,” in Proceedings of ACM/IEEE MSWiM, pp. 160–167, 2025. DOI
  4. H. Mai, R. Zhu, A. Boukerche, and Q. Yang, “EVAOR: An Efficient and Void-Avoidable Opportunistic Routing Protocol for Underwater Wireless Sensor Networks,” in Proceedings of IEEE ISCC, pp. 1–6, 2025.
  5. P. Li, Q. Yang, M. Wei, and R. Zhu, “Cross-Layer Intrusion Detection in UWSNs Using an Optimized CNN-LSTM Model,” in Network and Parallel Computing, LNCS 15528, pp. 286–298, 2025. DOI

2024

Journal Articles

  1. L. Xue, C. Cao, and R. Zhu, “Research on Underwater Sensor Network Adaptive Clustering Algorithm for Marine Environment Monitoring,” Journal of Marine Science and Engineering, vol. 12, no. 11, Art. no. 1958, 2024. DOI
  2. R. Zhu, A. Boukerche, D. Li, and Q. Yang, “Delay-Aware and Reliable Medium Access Control Protocols for UWSNs: Features, Protocols, and Classification,” Computer Networks, vol. 252, Art. no. 110631, 2024. DOI
  3. R. Zhu, A. Boukerche, Y. Chen, and Q. Yang, “A Reliable Cluster-Based Opportunistic Routing Protocol for Underwater Wireless Sensor Networks,” Computer Networks, vol. 251, Art. no. 110622, 2024. DOI
  4. R. Zhu, A. Boukerche, and Q. Yang, “An Efficient Secure and Adaptive Routing Protocol Based on GMM-HMM-LSTM for Internet of Underwater Things,” IEEE Internet of Things Journal, vol. 11, no. 9, pp. 16491–16504, 2024. DOI
  5. R. Zhu, L. Liu, P. Li, N. Chen, L. Feng, and Q. Yang, “DC-MAC: A Delay-Aware and Collision-Free MAC Protocol Based on Game Theory for Underwater Wireless Sensor Networks,” IEEE Sensors Journal, vol. 24, no. 5, pp. 6930–6941, 2024. DOI
  6. X. Huang, C. Chen, N. Chen, P. Li, R. Zhu, and Q. Yang, “A Robust and Machine Learning-Driven Identification Scheme for Malicious Nodes in UASNs,” Computer Communications, vol. 217, pp. 1–11, 2024. DOI
  7. R. Zhu, A. Boukerche, L. Long, and Q. Yang, “Design Guidelines on Trust Management for Underwater Wireless Sensor Networks,” IEEE Communications Surveys & Tutorials, vol. 26, no. 4, pp. 2547–2576, 2024.

Conference Papers

  1. P. Li, R. Zhu, A. Boukerche, and Q. Yang, “Dynamic Slice-Based Privacy-Preserving Data Aggregation for UWSNs,” in Proceedings of IEEE GLOBECOM, pp. 2401–2406, 2024. DOI
  2. R. Zhu, A. Boukerche, Z. Li, and Q. Yang, “Enhancing Source Location Privacy in UASNs: A Multi-Armed Bandit and Pseudopacket Scheduling Approach,” in Proceedings of IEEE GLOBECOM, pp. 1053–1058, 2024.
  3. R. Zhu, A. Boukerche, P. Li, and Q. Yang, “A Traffic-Aware Trust Model Based on Edge Computing for Underwater Wireless Sensor Networks,” in Proceedings of IEEE ICC, pp. 2390–2395, 2024. Best Paper Award
  4. Q. Jiang, R. Zhu, A. Boukerche, and Q. Yang, “An AUV-Assisted Data Collection Approach for UASNs Based on Hybrid Clustering and Matrix Completion,” in Proceedings of IEEE WCNC, pp. 1–6, 2024.

2023

Journal Articles

  1. R. Zhu, A. Boukerche, X. Huang, D. Li, and Q. Yang, “DESLR: Energy-Efficient and Secure Layered Routing Based on Channel-Aware Trust Model for UASNs,” Computer Networks, Art. no. 109939, 2023.
  2. R. Zhu, A. Boukerche, L. Feng, and Q. Yang, “A Trust Management-Based Secure Routing Protocol with AUV-Aided Path Repairing for Underwater Acoustic Sensor Networks,” Ad Hoc Networks, Art. no. 103212, 2023. DOI

Conference Papers

  1. R. Zhu, A. Boukerche, X. Huang, and Q. Yang, “GHL-SAR: Secure and Adaptive Routing Based on GMM-HMM-LSTM for UASNs,” in Proceedings of IEEE GLOBECOM, pp. 4540–4545, 2023.
  2. R. Zhu, A. Boukerche, and Q. Yang, “Towards a Trusted Channel Energy-Aware Routing Algorithm for Underwater Sensor Networks,” in Proceedings of ACM Q2SWinet, pp. 1–6, 2023. DOI
  3. A. Boukerche, R. Zhu, and Q. Yang, “T-SAPR: An Efficient Q-Learning Trust-Based Secure Routing Protocol for Underwater Acoustic Sensor Networks,” in Proceedings of ACM Q2SWinet, pp. 1–6, 2023. DOI

2022

Journal Articles

  1. R. Zhu, Q. Jiang, X. Huang, D. Li, and Q. Yang, “A Reinforcement-Learning-Based Opportunistic Routing Protocol for Energy-Efficient and Void-Avoided UASNs,” IEEE Sensors Journal, vol. 22, no. 13, pp. 13589–13601, 2022.
  2. R. Zhu, X. Huang, X. Huang, D. Li, and Q. Yang, “An On-Site-Based Opportunistic Routing Protocol for Scalable and Energy-Efficient Underwater Acoustic Sensor Networks,” Applied Sciences, vol. 12, no. 23, Art. no. 12482, 2022. DOI
  3. R. Zhu, et al., “Value Iteration Solving Algorithm for POMDP Based on Optimizing Environmental State Distribution,” Application Research of Computers, vol. 39, no. 2, pp. 374–378, 2022. (In Chinese)