Navigation, Dynamic Guidance and Automatic Driving
Automatic Identification Systems (2)
Mobile AIS Stations
• The ITU-R M.1371-1 specifications
regarding mobile AIS equipment
provide for two categories in
which they fall:
• Type A mobile AIS stations,
compliant with the relevant IMO
AIS specifications (IEC 61993-2
standard);
• Type B AIS mobile stations, which
do not have to fully comply with the
above specifications, and which
have their own versions of VDL
message transmission.
The main components of a mobile AIS station intended for
navigation and information
• The receiver of signals from navigation satellites
(SNS), with the primary role of ensuring the
timings and the general tact, based on which the
communication protocols ensure the transfer of
data from one AIS station to another; In this way,
collisions between the messages transmitted by
the different stations are avoided, using the time
slots appropriately. The SNS receiver can be
coupled with a differential own system or a DSNS
wide area system and can also be used to provide
information on position, speed, rate of turn,
course over the water bottom (SOG, COG, etc.)
The main components of a mobile AIS station
intended for navigation and information
• The radio communication equipment (transmitter-receiver, or
transponder), consisting of a radio transmitter and two receivers, for
operation according to the SOTDMA protocol. The transponder transmits
and receives the radio signals that interconnect the AIS stations with each
other (VDL logical layer). The time slots allocated to a single transmission
have a duration of 26.6 ms. The radio transmitter in the transponder must
have very good switching capabilities (usually 1 ms) from zero to full power
and vice versa, in order to comply with the times when data must be
transmitted (time slots). Radio receivers are composed of an analog radio
block and TDMA decoders. Similarly, the transmitter in the transponder has
a digital part for TDMA coding and an analog part for transmitting and
modulating the radio signals on the carrier frequencies.
Generic block diagram of an
AIS Transponder
The AIS Transponder
• An important element of the transponder is the VHF-DSC receiver, assigned to
channel 70 for receiving communications channel management commands (for
designation of the regional area). Likewise, the DSC module in the receiver can
also be used for alternative message transmission;
• The controller manages the functions of all AIS station components. The
temporal moments (time-slots) allocated to the transmission of messages, the
operation of the transmitter and receivers are processed, the communication
interfaces are managed and the various messages are distributed to all the
functional components of the transponder;
• The self-test module (BIIT) has the role of continuously monitoring the functions
and validity of the AIS transponder equipment. Its status is presented at start-up
on the associated display and in case of disappearance of one of the sensor
signals, or of a sensor failure, the information is displayed on the alarm module
and the dynamic status messages are modified accordingly.
The AIS Transponder
• The AIS transponder can interface with
different categories of external equipment,
such as:
• Electronic Vessel Positioning Devices (EPFD)
• Gyrocompass, optional with the possibility of
retrieving from it information on the ship's
turning speed (ROT);
• Information display systems (ARPA, ECDIS, INS,
etc.);
• Individual piloting units (PPU) or workstations;
• Long-distance radio communication systems,
via satellite (usually the INMARSAT-C system is
used)
Failure operation modes
Using AIS as a support to navigation
(assistance to navigation – AtoN)
• The complex AIS system allows multiple facilities aimed mainly at
increasing safety in navigation: AtoN, or Aids to Navigation.
Characteristics:
• Completing the current means of navigation signaling;
• Transmitting the exact positions of the means of navigation signaling, possibly
with DSNS corrections;
• Indication of the passive radio status of a navigation aid;
• Providing reference points for naval radars;
• Provision of virtual means of support for navigation;
• Providing hydro-meteorological data for navigation, etc.
Using AIS as a support to navigation (assistance
to navigation – AtoN)
Through the use of AIS systems, maintenance activities can also be
ensured for the means of navigational signaling, such as:
• Remote control and remote control of signaling means;
• Tracking the drift of signaling means;
• Automatic identification of ships involved in collisions with means of
naval signaling;
• Real-time data collection for monitoring navigation conditions;
• Remote control of changes in the operating parameters of naval
signaling devices, etc.
The AtoN 21 reporting message structure
Fixed AIS Stations
• Fixed AIS stations are independent elements that can operate
independently, on shore, and are further referred to by the PSS layer
(physical AIS shore station). The PSS consists of at least the following
component elements:
• AIS fixed station (AIS base station or AIS repeater station);
• The radio communication equipment, which belongs to the field of the
VHF/RF layer;
• Supply system and supply supervision;
• If the PSS houses a base station, then it is necessary to include the data
transport subsystem to/from the base station (eg an AIS repeater);
• The encapsulation system, which includes all elements of environmental
protection.
Functional structure of an AIS fixed
station
Elemente componente:
• Două receptoare radio multi-canal;
Functional •
•
Un emiţător radio multi-canal, TDMA (staţia de bază dotată cu doar un emiţător nu poate
transmite simultan şi pe canalul AIS 1 şi pe AIS 2); Component elements:
Two multi-channel radio receivers;
structure of • A multi-channel radio transmitter, TDMA (the base station equipped with only one transmitter
cannot simultaneously transmit on AIS channel 1 and AIS channel 2);
a fixed AIS
• Process controller unit;
• Internal synchronization source – usually this is an SNS receiver, which can also be used to
provide geographic position;
station •
•
•
BIIT integrity self-testing unit;
Power source;
Presentation Interface (API) – allows the transmission of data from the AIS base station to the
PSS layer and also allows the input of data to the base station
• Unitatea controler de proces;
• Sursa internă de sincronizare – de obicei aceasta este un receptor SNS, ce poate fi utilizat şi
pentru furnizarea de poziţie geografică;
• Unitatea de autotestare a integrităţii BIIT;
• Sursa de alimentare;
• Interfaţă de prezentare (API) – permite transmiterea de date de la staţia de bază AIS către
stratul PSS şi permite şi introducerea de date în staţia de bază
Messages of a fixed AIS station
Block diagram of an AIS
Transponder
The accuracy of the AIS location
component
• Starting from 2002, the regulation to equip ships with Class A AIS systems was
introduced as mandatory, according to the specifications of the SOLAS
regulations, chapter 5, in order to improve the safety of navigation and
increase the informational support between nearby ships and ships and AIS
stations on land
• Due to the DSNS correction message broadcast system, all transponders in an
AIS area will benefit from these corrections. There are also intermediate
solutions to be able to benefit from these corrections:
• Alternative A: the correction information is broadcast from the MF reference stations
which transmit it to the shore AIS stations via MF radio links; coastal AIS stations then
relay these corrections to ships at sea;
• Alternative B: correction information from authorized sources is routed to coastal AIS
stations via some telecommunications system;
• Alternative C: the correction information is generated within the AIS coast station and
broadcast by it.
The accuracy of the AIS location
component
Backup versions
for sending
DSNS patches
Comparison between different alternatives
In short
• Mobile AIS stations
• Fixed AIS stations
• DNSS Corrections
• Aids to Navigation – message
21
• Internal architecture - BiIT
Yank you for
your
attention!
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