In March 2002, Zeni Lite Buoy introduced "Akari," the world's first Aids to Navigation AIS, at the IALA (International Association of Aid to Navigation) International Conference in Sydney. Since then Akari AIS AtoN systems have been installed in Europe, Asia, North and South America, the Middle East, and Africa.
Zeni Lite was the first to install AtoN AIS on buoys, on lighthouses and on light-beacons, the first to monitor Aids to Navigation over an AIS link, and the first to install and commission AIS weather and tidal message broadcast stations at AtoN sites.
Akari is designed in accordance with IEC62320-2 test standards and offers additional features over the minimum requirements of IEC. The product contains an additional circuit board with sensing, computing, and memory components to monitor lantern and power supply operation, send addressed messages with monitoring data, and broadcast meteorological and hydrological messages.
The Akari products use a nominal voltage of 12-VDC or 24-VDC. The advantage lies in two areas, energy efficiency and reliability. Limiting the maximum input voltage to 32-VDC permits a robust design of RF transmitter and power system, resulting in the highest reliability. The other advantage is power drain. Operating in FATDMA mode, with Message 21 sent every 3 minutes, power drain is less than 1.0 Ahr per day, If a different supply voltage must be used, a voltage converter is employed.
Akari-AWS is Zeni Lite's 4th generation AIS Aids to Navigation transponder technology combined with a rugged meteorological and environmental sensor package to give an automatic AIS weather station that may be fitted to fixed or floating platform.
When used on aids to navigation platforms, the Akari-AWS also monitors the aids to navigation and can transmit AIS Message 21 for use by vessels within range. Status of the system power supply is continually checked, and data returned to shore via AIS Message 6. The Akari-AWS is designed to allow direct connection of 1 or 2 meteorological or hydrological sensors, or a number of sensors connected via a Digital Interface Unit (DIU).
The Akari-AWS and Akari-DIU system have been integrated to different manufacturer's Meteorological and Hydrological sensors, making it a truly universal compatible product.
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An Electronic Navigation Chart identifying a number of Lighthouses & Resilient Beacons (Spar Buoys) fitted with Meteorological and Hydrological (Weather) Sensors broadcasting Message 8.
Typical installation with lantern and other equipment such as meteorological or tidal sensors, or another AtoN system