ArkEdge Space Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Koto-ku, Tokyo; CEO: Takayoshi Fukushiro, hereinafter “ArkEdge Space”), IHI Corporation (head office: Koto-ku, Tokyo; CEO: Hiroshi Ide; hereinafter referred to as “IHI ”) and LocationMind Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo; Representative Director: Naoki Kiritani, hereinafter “LocationMind”) jointly applied to NEDO for funds to develop a new maritime communication system. On 17 March 2023, NEDO approved the application. NEDO is a national research and development funding agency, “New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization.”

For this project, utilizing the technical capabilities of the three companies, we plan to develop and demonstrate technology for understanding marine conditions using a novel constellation of communication satellites for ships.

ArkEdge Space will utilize the microsatellite design and mission operation know-how that it has acquired so far to support VDES*, which realizes two-way communication for ships and oceans, and can monitor the overall maritime situation. In addition to promoting the development and demonstration of new microsatellites, we will promote the construction of a system for future global-scale service offerings.

Maritime information collected through the VDES satellite constellation is aggregated and shared on a data platform constructed under the cooperation of three companies, including IHI and LocationMind. It is expected to contribute to the achievement of “digital transformation” and the realization of more efficient logistics management at ports and harbors.

Maritime digital transformation and MDA using VDES satellites

• VDES is the abbreviation for VHF Data Exchange System. It is a system for exchanging navigational information of ships navigating the ocean with other ships and land stations. Based on the SOLAS Convention, from the perspective of collision prevention and human life safety, it is obligatory to be installed on ships that meet specific conditions. It is sometimes called AIS2.0 as the next-generation version of the AIS (Automatic Identification System for Ships). Compared to AIS, it has expanded functions such as improved communication speed and two-way communication, and is expected to be used as the basic infrastructure for ship identification, safe navigation, and maritime digitalization in the future.

Expectations for Maritime Situational Awareness

We can develop Autonomous MDA that utilizes space infrastructure to drastically improve the current situation where “the movements of all ships are not known“.
In addition, two-way communication using space infrastructure will also contribute to the general availability of maritime safety information, navigation assistance, and maritime traffic control.

With the aforementioned issues in mind, we will conduct the R&D of this project. Based on VDES, for which Japan has led the international standardization, this project will develop satellite technology for MDA, which comprehensively collects ship movement information from space, and satellite technology for consolidating and sharing maritime information through two-way communication.

Contract period: From 2022 to 2029
Details about this project: https://www.nedo.go.jp/koubo/SM3_100001_00034.html

About ArkEdge Space, Inc.

ArkEdge Space was established in 2018 by members who were involved in the development of this satellite while at the University of Tokyo, with the aim of commercializing it based on the nano-satellite development and utilization technologies they developed while at the University. Currently, we have established a production system for multiple types of nano-satellites and other types of satellites, and in addition to hardware business such as nano-satellite, ground station maintenance, and design and manufacturing of related components. We are also engaged in a wide range of other businesses such as satellite operation services, related software development, education, and consulting.

We have a track record of supplying satellites overseas, including the RWASAT-1 satellite to the Rwanda Public Utilities Regulatory Authority (RURA), as well as participating in the operation of the EQUULEUS nano-satellite to the moon and developing a nano-satellite on the ESA-JAXA Comet Interceptor comet exploration mission. In the future, we will continue to develop and operate a wide range of products, such as IoT communications, earth-based communications, and spacecraft for the earth and deep space.