Maritime Communications transformed through AI

VesselAware (VA) provides a complete method of communication for maritime bridge crews, including situational awareness and real-time translation options for bidirectional communications. This capability ameliorates some of the highest risk scenarios identified in operating ships today. Our solution also provides key capabilities needed foráremote vessel operations by providing the ability to remotely monitor and transmit via VHF communications. We provide the capability to integrate some of the most timely and direct data - VHF Communications - directly into the Maritime Domain Awareness (MDA) platform, providing a key and valuable missing link in the MDA platform.áVesselAware (VA) uses generative AI to directly address inherent weaknesses in VHF communications, providing a solution whichácontinuously monitors and records transmissions, transforms data points into a visual display, flags transmissions of particular or urgent needs, and assists to prioritize and identify transmissions which may provide valuable information but may have gone unnoticed, either due to pressing issues or language barriers. VA creates a network for VHF transmissions that can be leveraged to piece together transmissions that may be garbled or out of range. This VA Cloud creates a data feed that is no longer line of sight constrained, but able to lookáacross the horizonáand incorporate multiple VHF data feeds into a single coherent data stream.áááVA uses Large Language Models customized for the maritime environment to deliver voice transmissions and AIS coordinates to existing chartplotters and to mobile and wearable devices, appearing in text format and visual display. A mobile app is provided for easy review and replay of all communications, and integration to a common domain environment is feasible.ááTheáVA Platform consists of three components.áVA Pod is a compact device that connects to a ship or land stationÆs VHF antenna, and can receive and transmit VHF audio broadcasts. Incoming audio broadcasts and AIS data are sent in real-time to VA Cloud.áVA Cloud aggregates, stores and processes data coming from VA Pods in real-time, enabling remote/automated monitoring and management of all audio communications across a fleet and/or land station networkÆs VHF radio communications. Shoreside and on-board personnel interact with the platform using theáVA App (iOS and Android) and browser support. Surface functionality in ECDIS through NMEA is viable.ááPhase II will complete a viability test, leveraging VesselAware equipment aboard Navy vessels and land sites. Specific objectives include:Fully functioning server components that are able to ingest and process data seamlessly from the VAPod stations and integrate seamlessly with the VAcloud;Beta users actively experiencing the app both underway and ashore, providing user data to inform the steps to deploy in future phased deployment.Identification of integration strategies for the VA cloud to incorporate with the MDA platform.