Taiwan AIS CubeSat Tracking System for Marine Safety

Abstract

The YUSAT-1 is the 1.5U Cubic Satellite (CubeSat), equipped with an Automatic Identification System (AIS) Payload instrument that has been proposed by National Space Program (NSPO), Taiwan, for marine navigation safety, vessels tracking and marine disaster management applications. The vessels and shore stations obtained the dynamic and static data from AIS, and it is the primary method of collision avoidance at sea. The AIS data included the Global Positioning System (GPS) coordinates, speed, weather station telemetry, text messages; announcements, queries, unique identification, and other needed telemetry. YUSAT-1 system will use the adopts PC104 standard module to interconnect the various Subsystems, which include Attitude Determination and Control Subsystem (ADCS), Command and Data Handling Subsystem (C&DH), Electrical Power Subsystem (EPS), and Communications Subsystem (COMM). This core will be used to interface with each Subsystem, including ADCS, AIS Payloads. When in operation mode, AIS will receive packets between radios covered areas, and perform message forwarding and storing, when flying over the application area where ground station can receiving the signals. This mission will serve as a technology demonstration of AIS to provide a solution for AIS radio blind coverage area for Taiwan's authority surveillance. Also provided APRS services when it's in its operation mode to the covered area by immediately forwarding and storing its packet information. Therefore, this study provides an overview of the satellite which is carried out to achieve the necessary system design and performance for enhance the land and marine transportation safety.