AIS launched as iPhone ‘app’ at Seawork
Seawork exhibitor Digital Yacht, to be found on Stand Q19, has developed a new low cost navigation device for use with Apples popular range of mobile products.
Called iAIS, it wirelessly links a boat’s navigation data to the Apple iPhone, iPad or iTouch. It also incorporates a highly sophisticated, dual channel Automatic Identification System (AIS) receiver allowing compatible ‘apps’ access to NMEA instrument, GPS and AIS data.
iAIS, which helps boaters identify other vessels that are equipped with an AIS transponder, communicates with the Apple devices via a WiFi interface. iPad and iPhone users simply turn on their device to wirelessly connect to the iAIS hot spot. No connection to the internet is needed and there are no cumbersome cables to connect.
The AIS data (which brings information such as position, name, call sign, MMSI number, course and speed of other ships) then becomes available for any compatible application. This information is essential in alerting boaters to others in close proximity and can help calculate if paths are likely to cross and how soon. AIS provides valuable information that can be key in collision avoidance.
iAIS also multiplexes any other NMEA data that is available on board the boat such as GPS, depth, speed, wind etc. All of this information is combined with the AIS data into the wireless feed. Some users have complained that the GPS devices incorporated into the iPhone and iPad suffer from jitter or poor lock-on, but by using onboard GPS or even hand held marine GPS, an operator will get substantially improved GPS readings on any compatible application. iAIS just requires a connection to a standard VHF antenna.
The most popular application for the iPhone and iPad, which can support a real time GPS overlay and AIS, is the iNavX app. Compatible with Navionic’s charts, iNavX provides a complete set of navigation functions that turns a portable Apple device in to a fully functional electronic chart plotter. Digital Yacht has also produced a free of charge, simple AIS overlay app, which is available from the App store.
iAIS is also compatible with any PC or other application (Android, Windows Mobile etc) that can accept wireless (TCP/IP) data for navigation information.
