Automatic Voluntary Observing Ships System (AVOS)
The Voluntary Observing Ships' program (VOS) is an international initiative by which ocean-going ships are recruited by National Meteorological services to record and transmit shipboard weather. Until recently VOS reports could only be manually compiled so observation bias and input error occurred regularly; hence 20% of the observed data in Canada's VOS program was being rejected in quality control tests.
In order to improve VOS data collection, AXYS Technologies Inc. and Environment Canada have jointly developed the Automatic Voluntary Observing Ships System (AVOS). AVOS is an automated weather station that transmits VOS program reports. Errors and standard reporting biases are eliminated through the use of touch screen technology, intuitive software, and automated quality control protocols.
AVOS Features Include:
• Automatic data collection
• Proven WatchMan500 processor
Integrated system features include:
• AVOS controller processor
• Wind measurement
• Water temperature
• Temperature and relative humidity
• Fluxgate compass
• Digital barometer
• GPS receiver
Optional system features include:
• INMARSAT C telemetry
• Touchscreen user interface
Product Documentation
AVOS (PDF, 1.7 MB)
Testimonial Letter (PDF, 34 Kb)
Ship Sentinel™
The AXYS Ship Sentinel™ is a self-contained and fully automated weather station that can be installed on new vessels or retrofitted to existing ships. Typical sensor configurations provide GPS position, 3 hourly ship speed made good, course made good, true wind speed & direction, barometric pressure, air temperature & wet bulb and sea surface temperature. Ideally, two ultrasonic anemometers are mounted on existing masts (port and starboard). Bridge crew can view the environmental information in real time on AXYS' bridge display software, while various telemetry choices are offered if the data also needs to be sent to a remote location.
Please contact us for more information on the Ship Sentinel™.