Global Maritime Connectivity Delivered
AOS is a brand born from a collaborative partnership between AAC Clyde Space, ORBCOMM Inc. and Saab, together we are developing the next generation of space based VDES system, marking the beginning of a new era in maritime communications. The AOS era.
Our vision is to create the first dedicated global maritime communication system, enabling great improvements for seafarers and their loved ones, the shipping industry as well as our planet.
Together we are developing the next generation of maritime communication services, directed to end customers as well as for safety of navigation services. The ultimate aim is to create a global maritime communication network enabling ship to ship and ship to shore communication everywhere on the globe.
AAC Clyde Space specialises in small satellite technologies and services that enable businesses, governments, and educational organisations to access high-quality, timely data from space. This data has a vast range of applications, from weather forecasting to precision farming to environmental monitoring, and is essential to improving our quality of life on Earth.
Our growing capabilities bring together three divisions:
Space Data as a Service – delivering data from space directly to customers
Space missions – turnkey solutions that empower customers to streamline their space missions
Space products and components – a full range of off-the-shelf and tailor-made subsystems, components and sensors
AAC Clyde Space have been operating for over 15 years and aim to become a world leader in commercial small satellites and services from space. Satellites are one of the most vital tools to better understand our planet and by applying advances in technology to tackle global challenges we are bringing space down to earth, from the ability to monitor extreme weather events in real-time to looking for trends in changes to key climate change indicators such as the health of the ocean to monitoring size of the polar ice caps.
Some of our clients include Horizon Technologies, Orbcomm, NSLComm, OHB Sweden, Intuitive Machines, Orbital Micro Systems, the United States Airforce Academy, UK Space Agency, European Space Agency and NASA.
AAC Clyde Space’s main operations are located in Sweden, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, the USA and South Africa, with partner networks in Japan and South Korea.
AAC Clyde Space’s shares are traded on Nasdaq First North Premier Growth Market, Sweden. The share is also traded on the US OTCQX-market under the symbol ACCMF.
ORBCOMM Inc., is a global leader and innovator in the industrial Internet of Things (IoT), providing solutions that connect businesses to their assets to deliver increased visibility and operational efficiency. The company offers a broad set of asset monitoring and control solutions, including seamless satellite and cellular connectivity, unique hardware and powerful applications, all backed by end-to-end customer support, from installation to deployment to customer care. ORBCOMM has a diverse customer base including premier OEMs, solutions customers and channel partners spanning transportation, supply chain, warehousing and inventory, heavy equipment, maritime, natural resources and government.
Saab serves the global market with world-leading products, services and solutions within military defence and civil security. Saab has operations and employees on all continents around the world. Through innovative, collaborative and pragmatic thinking, Saab develops, adopts and improves new technology to meet customers’ changing needs.
TransponderTech, a business unit of Saab and a leading manufacturer of AIS, is providing all parts of the VDES system for this service, such as, shipborne VDES, shore based VDES and satellite VDES transponders, all based on their 5th generation Software Defined Radio platform. The new radio platform provides easy upgrade using existing antenna installations.
Our vision is to create the first global maritime communication system, enabling great improvements for seafarers and their loved ones, the shipping industry as well as our planet.
By adding space-based capability to VDES, the communication system’s range increases from the shoreline to anywhere in the ocean, converting what is currently a predominantly coastal system into a global maritime system. With up to 32 times more bandwidth than the currently widely used Automatic Identification System (AIS) communication, VDES can be integrated with e-navigation systems, enabling savings in fuel and emissions of up to 25 percent, aiding navigation, and increasing safety. The bandwidth also creates opportunities for a wide range of other services, such as delivery of weather data, messaging, etc.
The next generation of AIS system – internationally called the VHF Data Exchange System (VDES) – provides higher data exchange capability to allow for smarter navigation and communication solutions for the shipping industry. It adds also a new dimension with providing terrestrial VDES and satellite VDES, a global high-speed ship-to-satellite and satellite-to-ship communication link available for various applications.
VDES makes available up to 32 times more bandwidth compared to AIS and can provide unique world-wide satellite-to-ship reporting/communication, better integrity, and cyber security technology. It addresses also the emerging indications of overload of the AIS VHF Data Link (VDL), enable a wider seamless data exchange and supports a future modernization of GMDSS.
VDES supports the increasing communications requirements identified through the development of e‐Navigation, as defined in the International Maritime Organization (IMO) e‐Navigation Strategic Implementation Plan (SIP). The purpose of e‐navigation is to enhance berth‐to‐berth navigation and related services for safety and security at sea and protection of the marine environment. E-Navigation seeks to enhance maritime safety through simplification and harmonization of information. In addition, e‐Navigation seeks to facilitate and increase efficiency of maritime trade and transport by improved information exchange.
AOS (AAC Clyde Space, Saab and ORBCOMM) are collaborating on the developing of the next generation of space based VDES system, marking the beginning of a new era in maritime communications.
We’re building, launching and commissioning the first satellite in the project, the satellite, Njord-1, is expected to be followed by a larger constellation of satellites that will form a new part of the maritime communication infrastructure.
The satellite will carry a VDES (VHF Data Exchange System) payload from Saab for two-way communication between satellite and ground. ORBCOMM will integrate the data in its distribution centre for maritime communications.
As the world gets ‘smarter’, we’re both demanding and need better, speed and reliability of communications. AOS will ultimately be a space-based communication service which both utilizes VDES and cross industry expertise and technology to offer a truly unique data service . Reliable global satellite coverage supports many applications including maritime domain awareness, search and rescue, environmental monitoring to maritime intelligence.
Njord-1, a 3U satellite built by AAC Clyde Space, is the first satellite of an intended constellation. It is planned to launch in mid-2022 and will be the first satellite assembled at AAC Clyde Space’s new integration facility in Uppsala, Sweden. The satellite will carry a VDES (VHF Data Exchange System) payload from Saab for two-way communication between satellite and ground. ORBCOMM will integrate the data in its distribution centre for maritime communications.
The first demonstration satellite is expected to be followed by a larger constellation of satellites that will form a new part of the maritime communication infrastructure. The addition of a space-based capability will increase VDES range from the shoreline to anywhere in the ocean, converting what is currently a predominantly coastal system into a global maritime system.
For more information about AOS, how it works or for more information around our maritime communications service, please get in touch today.