Maritime Domain Awareness via Radar Track Sharing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current maritime domain awareness systems have limited capabilities in monitoring maritime activity over large geographical areas due to restricted detection and communication ranges of navigational radars and Automatic Identification Systems (AIS), which hampers effective surveillance and security, especially against piracy and resource poaching.
Innovation Solution
A system and method that extends maritime domain awareness by sharing radar track data between vessels using a domain extension device with a processor that interfaces with navigational radars and AIS transceivers, generating a common operating picture and transmitting data to other vessels within communication range, thereby enhancing the detection and identification of targets beyond individual radar limits.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If navigational radar is used for maritime domain awareness, then detection capability is provided, but detection range is limited by the horizon
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines radar track data from multiple vessels to create a common operating picture, merging individual detection capabilities to achieve extended maritime domain awareness beyond single-vessel radar horizons
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses AIS transceivers as intermediaries to share radar track data between vessels, enabling each vessel to access detection data from other vessels without requiring direct line-of-sight radar detection
2Measurement precision
If AIS system is used for ship identification and tracking, then identification capability is provided, but communication range is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses AIS transceivers for multiple functions: both for their intended ship identification and tracking purposes, and as a communication medium for sharing radar track data, maximizing the utility of existing maritime communication infrastructure
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges AIS communication functionality with radar data sharing, allowing vessels to exchange both identification data and detection data through the same communication channel
3Reliability
If government vessels monitor maritime activity independently, then security enforcement is provided, but coverage area is limited by the number of vessels
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the maritime monitoring function across multiple independent vessels, with each vessel contributing its radar detection capabilities to a collective monitoring network, thereby expanding total coverage area while maintaining security enforcement reliability
Solution Approach 2:
Each participating vessel independently generates and shares its own radar track data without requiring centralized collection and processing, allowing the system to scale automatically as more vessels participate
Data Source
AI summary
A system for extending maritime domain awareness of participating vessels. The system includes a domain extension device installed on each of the vessels, the domain extension devices including at least one processor configured to receive own-ship radar track data from a navigational radar indicative of detectable targets located within a detection range of the radar, receive own-ship location values from a positioning device indicative of a geographical location of the vessel when the radar track data is generated, interface with a transceiver to receive other-ship radar track data and associated other-ship location values from one or more other participating vessels within a communication range of other-ship AIS transceivers, generate a common operating picture based upon the own-ship radar track data, own-ship location value, other-ship radar track data and other-ship location values.