Systems And Methods For Extending Maritime Domain Awareness By Sharing Radar Tracks Between Vessels

A domain extension device installable on a participating vessel having a shipboard navigational radar, an Automatic identification System (AIS) having an AIS transceiver, and a positioning device, the domain extension device comprising at least one processor configured to:

• (a) receive own-ship radar track data from the navigational radar indicative of detectable targets located within a detection range of the radar;
• (b) receive own-ship location value from the positioning device indicative of a geographical location of the vessel when the radar track data is generated;
• (c) interface with the AIS 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;
• (d) 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, the common operating picture including information about targets located within the detection range of the radar of the vessel and radars of the one or more other vessels;
• and
• (e) interface with the AIS transceiver to transmit own-ship radar track data and own-ship location values to one or more other participating vessels within a communication range of the own-ship AIS transceiver.

A domain extension device comprising at least one processor configured to:

• (a) receive own-ship radar track data from a navigational radar indicative of detectable targets located within a detection range of the radar;
• (b) receive own-ship location values from a positioning device indicative of a geographical location of the vessel when the radar track data is generated;
• (c) receive other-ship radar track data and associated other-ship location values using a shipboard transceiver, the other-ship radar track data and associated other ship location values being from one or more other participating vessels within a communication range of other-ship transceivers;
• (d) 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, the common operating picture including information about targets located within the detection range of the radar of the vessel and radars of the one or more other vessels;
• and
• (e) transmit own-ship radar track data and own-ship location values using the shipboard transceiver to one or more other participating vessels within a communication range of the shipboard transceiver.

A method for extending maritime domain awareness of participating vessels, each of the vessels having a shipboard navigational radar, an Automatic Identification System (AIS) and a positioning device installed thereon, the method comprising:

• (a) receiving own-ship radar track data from the navigational radar indicative of detectable targets located within a detection range of the radar;
• (b) receive own-ship location value from the positioning device indicative of a geographical location of the vessel when the radar track data is generated;
• (c) interface with the AIS 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;
• (d) 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, the common operating picture including information about targets located within the detection range of the radar of the vessel and radars of the one or more other vessels;
• and
• (e) interface with the AIS transceiver to transmit own-ship radar track data and own-ship location values to one or more other participating vessels within a communication range of the own-ship AIS transceiver.