Airborne sensor platform Taking Maritime Intelligence to the Skies

Related Vendors

Fastems Systems GmbH

item Industrietechnik GmbH

aisvogel, a bird’s-eye view of AIS (Automatic Identification System) combines RF, positioning and sensor data.

An electronically reported vessel position is, first and foremost, a data point. Determining whether a vessel is actually at that location becomes more reliable when additional, independent information is available. This is precisely where aisvogel from hensec secure solutions comes in. The airborne sensor platform collects RF, positioning, movement and optical data directly over the maritime area of operation and combines it into a common situational picture.

aisvogel can monitor large maritime areas for many hours, detect unusual signals and movement patterns and, when required, be deployed specifically to locations of interest. In response to alerts or suspicious activity, the platform can launch automatically, fly to the relevant area and use its sensors to verify the situation on site. Subject to the appropriate authorisation, such missions can also be conducted Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS). Depending on the mission, the platform can be equipped with RF (radio frequency), AIS (Automatic Identification System), EO/IR (electro-optical/infrared), GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite System) and communications systems. This allows different types of information not only to be collected, but also correlated in time and space, cross-checked and assessed.

“A reliable maritime situational picture requires more than looking at individual data sources in isolation,” said Kevin Heneka, Managing Director of hensec secure solutions. “What matters is where the information comes together: Does the reported position match what is actually observed? Can a suspicious RF emission be geographically narrowed down? And do the different sensors together provide a coherent picture? These are exactly the kinds of tasks we developed aisvogel to address.”

When the reported position does not match the observation

A key application for aisvogel is the verification of AIS data. AIS automatically broadcasts information from vessels including their identity, position, course and speed. The platform receives AIS information, analyses vessel movements and cross-checks reported positions against additional observations. Camera and EO/IR sensors can independently confirm a contact and compare electronically reported position data with what is actually observed.

When AIS, GNSS or other positioning information is correlated with a detected contact, discrepancies in location become visible. Suspicious position jumps, implausible tracks or potential spoofing incidents can then be prioritised and investigated in greater detail.

At the same time, the platform can detect relevant RF activity and classify suspicious or unknown radio signals in terms of their location and timing. In the GNSS domain, aisvogel can be used to investigate anomalies as well as potential jamming or spoofing events in maritime environments. The platform itself is equipped with GPS-jamming-resilient navigation systems, enabling it to navigate even in environments affected by interference.

The different sources of information feed into a dynamic common situational picture. Discrepancies between signals, movements and observed positions become visible and can be assessed for their operational relevance. For maritime security, this cross-checking of independent information sources is particularly important for reliably assessing anomalies and investigating them further when necessary.

Mobile sensor capabilities for maritime operations

The CarryAir platform on which aisvogel is based combines the efficiency of a fixed-wing aircraft with the flexibility of a VTOL system. In practical terms, the aircraft takes off and lands vertically like a helicopter, while offering the endurance and efficiency of an airplane in forward flight. With its hybrid propulsion system, flight times of up to ten hours are possible. The platform has a wingspan of just under three meters and offers a payload capacity of up to seven kilograms, with 60 liters of protected payload volume. Six dedicated lift rotors enable vertical takeoff and landing while also providing redundancy.

The sensor configuration can be tailored to the individual mission. RF, AIS, EO/IR, GNSS and communications systems can be integrated, allowing the platform to be adapted to different operational areas, sensor packages and mission profiles. As an unmanned sensor platform, aisvogel is also significantly more cost-effective to operate than helicopters or crewed aircraft, particularly for prolonged or recurring surveillance missions.

Potential applications include long-duration mobile monitoring of vessel traffic, shipping routes and defined areas of operation. In addition, aisvogel can cross-check electronically reported positions and identities against independent airborne observations, investigate unusual RF activity, and detect and geographically investigate potential GNSS jamming and spoofing events in coastal and offshore areas.

The platform is also designed for mobile monitoring of critical maritime infrastructure. Potential applications identified by hensec include offshore facilities, cable corridors, energy infrastructure and sensitive maritime areas. This enables aisvogel to support maritime security across larger areas at sea as well as the targeted protection of particularly sensitive infrastructure. aisvogel is developed and manufactured in Germany, with its entire supply chain located within the European Union.

Multiple platforms working together

One of aisvogel’s key capabilities is the cooperative deployment of multiple airborne platforms. Multiple drones operating from geographically separated positions can observe the same signal from different locations and jointly evaluate their measurements.

With the appropriate sensor configuration, this setup enables cooperative direction-finding and geolocation. Multiple platforms provide different lines of bearing that can be used to geographically narrow down the source of a suspicious emission. At the same time, additional platforms can monitor the surrounding maritime area or optically verify a contact.

A bird’s-eye view as a key advantage in maritime surveillance

“Mobility is a crucial advantage at sea,” explains Heneka. “Instead of relying solely on what can be detected from a fixed location, we bring the sensors directly over the area of operation to provide a comprehensive bird’s-eye view. And when multiple platforms work together, we can examine a suspicious situation from different positions and combine the information they collect.”

The mission workflow follows a consistent principle: Sensor data is first collected and then correlated in time and space, while anomalies are classified and prioritised. Electronic information can subsequently be cross-checked against optical observations or other independent sensor data. Suspicious contacts and signal sources can then be investigated in greater detail and geographically narrowed down through the cooperative use of multiple platforms.

For more information about aisvogel, purchasing the platform or deployment options through a rental service, please contact hensec secure solutions at contact@hensec.com.