Software Defined AIS Receiver Implementation Based on RTL-SDR and GNU Radio

Automatic Identification System (AIS) is a radio data system on board ships with an objectif to exchange different kind of informations (static, dynamic and trip related informations). This exchange could happen between ships themselves or between ship and ground stations. while receiving these informations, AIS devices on board or ashore present in the reception area can automatically locate, identify and track AISequipped vessels. There are many types of AIS devices such as class A mobile stations (161.975 MHz) mandated for vessels 300GT and above, and class B mobile stations (162.025 MHz) with limited functionality and primarily used for vessels such as pleasure crafts. This paper presents the reception and decoding of AIS class A mobile station signal using RTL-SDR device with VHF antenna, GNU Radio and AIS decoder to decode the frame.