Research On The Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon Tester

The safety of human life in the maritime industry is carried out by taking into the considerations which are proposed by the International Maritime Organization (IMO). When any emergency condition arises, there are certain set of rules which should be followed. The Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS) describe those communication protocols which are meant to be carried out in the situation where there is a threat to human life, health, property or environment.The emergency position indicating radio beacon (EPIRB) is an important part of the GMDSS systems which transmits a 406 MHz identification signal which is received by search and rescue satellite-aided tracking (SARSAT) satellites which are in orbit around earth (GEOSAR and LEO satellite). The ground receiving station relays the position coordinates for the EPIRB as well as identification information relating to the vessel to which EPIRB was assigned. It is housed in a buoy which is designed to float on the surface of water, and the upper portion of the buoy includes an antenna cone which contains the transmitting antenna and in order to aid in visual location of EPIRB by the SAR vehicles, the top of the antenna cone is provided with light.The next generation of the EPIRB is software realized based on the theoretical fundamentals of software defined radio. The software based EPIRB and EPIRB tester has the same functionalities which are provided in the second generation 406 MHz EPIRB and is developed in the research project. These software based transceivers are tested on the Test case, which shows that the goals of the research project are achieved.