Satellite automatic identification system (AIS) for tracking a plurality of maritime vessels and related methods

An Automatic Identification System (AIS) reporting system for tracking a plurality of maritime vessels in cooperation with a constellation of Low-Earth Orbit (LEO) satellites, each LEO satellite comprising an AIS payload for receiving AIS messages from the plurality of maritime vessels and determining therefrom reported vessel position data and satellite-based observation data, the AIS reporting system comprising:

• an AIS processor and memory cooperating therewith and configured to
• obtain the reported maritime vessel position data and satellite-based observation data from the constellation of LEO satellites over time, and
• filter the reported maritime vessel position data and satellite-based observation data obtained over time along with associated uncertainties, by updating state and covariance estimates using the reported maritime vessel position data and satellite-based observation data with input from state and covariance estimates propagated to a time of observation to recursively produce estimated maritime vessel positions and update the estimated maritime vessel positions for the plurality of maritime vessels using respective weighting values based upon the associated uncertainties.

A method for tracking a plurality of maritime vessels in cooperation with a constellation of Low-Earth Orbit (LEO) satellites, each LEO satellite comprising an Automatic Identification System (AIS) payload for receiving AIS messages from the plurality of maritime vessels and determining therefrom reported vessel position data and satellite-based observation data, the method comprising:

• operating an AIS processor and memory cooperating therewith to
• obtain the reported maritime vessel position data and satellite-based observation data from said constellation of LEO satellites over time, and
• filter the reported maritime vessel position data and satellite-based observation data obtained over time along with associated uncertainties, by updating state and covariance estimates using the reported maritime vessel position data and satellite-based observation data with input from state and covariance estimates propagated to a time of observation to recursively produce estimated maritime vessel positions and update the estimated maritime vessel positions for the plurality of maritime vessels using respective weighting values based upon the associated uncertainties.