Bearings-only tracking of maneuvering targets using abatch-recursive estimator

We present a new batch-recursive estimator for tracking maneuvering targets from bearings-only measurements in clutter (i.e., for low signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) targets), Standard recursive estimators like the extended Kalman Iter (EKF) suffer from poor convergence and erratic behavior due to the lack of initial target range information, On the other hand, batch estimators cannot handle target maneuvers. In order to rectify these shortcomings, we combine the batch maximum likelihood-probabilistic data association (ML-PDA) estimator with the recursive interacting multiple model (IMM) estimator with probabilistic data association (PDA) to result in better track initialization as well as track maintenance results in the presence of clutter. It is also demonstrated how the batch-recursive estimator can be used for adaptive decisions for ownship maneuvers based on the target state estimation to enhance the target observability. The tracking algorithm is shown to be effective for targets with 8 dB SNR     

Bayesian tracking of two possibly unresolved maneuvering targets

The paper studies the problem of maintaining tracks of two targets that may maneuver in and out formation flight, whereas the sensor and measurement extraction chain produces false and possibly unresolved or missing measurements. If the possibility of unresolved measurements is not modelled then it is quite likely that either the two tracks coalesce or that one of the two tracks diverges on false measurements. In literature a robust measurement resolution model has been incorporated within an interacting multiple model/multiple hypothesis tracking (IMM/MHT) track maintenance setting. A straightforward incorporation of the same model within an IMM and probabilistic data association (PDA)-like hypothesis merging approach suffers from track coalescence. In order to improve this situation, the paper develops a track-coalescence avoiding hypotheses merging version for the two target problem considered. Through Monte Carlo simulations, the novel filters are compared with applying hypotheses merging approaches that ignore the possibility of unresolved measurements or track-coalescence.     

Data fusion of decentralized local tracker outputs

An approach for fusing offboard track-level data at a central fusion node is presented. The case where the offboard tracker continues to update its local track estimate with measurement and system dynamics models that are not necessarily linear is considered. An algorithm is developed to perform this fusion at a central node without having access to the offboard measurements, their noise statistics, or the location of the local estimator. The algorithm is based on an extension of results that were originally established for linear offboard trackers. A second goal of this work is to develop an inequality constraint for selecting the proper sampling interval for the incoming state estimates to the fusion node. This interval is selected to allow use of conventional Kalman filter algorithms at the fusion node without suffering error performance degradation due to processing a correlated sequence of track state estimates     

Coordinated target localization base on pseudo measurement for clustered space robot

This paper presents a coordinated target localization method for clustered space robot.According to the different measuring capabilities of cluster members,the master-slave coordinated relative navigation strategy for target localization with respect to slavery space robots is proposed;then the basic mathematical models,including coordinated relative measurement model and cluster centralized dynamics,are established respectively.By employing the linear Kalman flter theorem,the centralized estimator based on truth measurements is developed and analyzed frstly,and with an intention to inhabit the initial uncertainties related to target localization,the globally stabilized estimator is designed through introduction of pseudo measurements.Furthermore,the observability and controllability of stochastic system are also analyzed to qualitatively evaluate the convergence performance of pseudo measurement estimator.Finally,on-orbit target approaching scenario is simulated by using semi-physical simulation system,which is used to verify the convergence performance of proposed estimator.During the simulation,both the known and unknown maneuvering acceleration cases are considered to demonstrate the robustness of coordinated localization strategy.     

Bearings-only and Doppler-bearing tracking using instrumentalvariables

In bearings-only tracking (BOT) or Doppler and bearing tracking (DBT), both common passive sonar problems, the measurement equations are nonlinear. To apply the Kalman filter, it is necessary either to linearize the equations or to embed the nonlinearities into the noise terms. The former sometimes leads to filter divergence, while the latter produces biased estimates. A formulation of BOT and DBT which has a constant state vector and simplifies the tracking problem to one of constant parameter estimation is given. The solution is by the instrumental variable method. The instrumental variables are obtained from predictions based on past measurements and are therefore independent of the present noisy measurements. The result is a recursive unbiased estimator. The theoretical developments are verified by simulation, which also shows that the formulation leads to near optimal estimators whose errors are close to the Cramer-Rao lower bound (CRLB)     

On joint track initiation and parameter estimation under measurement origin uncertainty

The problem of joint detection and estimation for track initiation under measurement origin uncertainty is studied. The two well-known approaches, namely the maximum likelihood estimator with probabilistic data association (ML-PDA) and the multiple hypotheses tracking (MHT) via multiframe assignment, are characterized as special cases of the generalized likelihood ratio test (GLRT) and their performance limits indicated. A new detection scheme based on the optimal gating is proposed and the associated parameter estimation scheme modified within the ML-PDA framework. A simplified example shows the effectiveness of the new algorithm in detection performance under heavy clutter. Extension of the results to state estimation with measurement origin uncertainty is also discussed with emphasis on joint detection and recursive state estimation.     

Nonstochastic adaptive decision fusion in distributed-detection systems

Implementing the optimal Neyman-Pearson (NP) fusion rule in distributed detection systems requires the sensor error probabilities to be a priori known and constant during the system operation. Such a requirement is practically impossible to fulfil for every resolution cell in a multiflying target multisensor environment. The true performance of the fusion center is often worse than expected due to fluctuations of the observed environment and instabilities of sensor thresholds. This work considers a nonparametric data fusion situation in which the fusion center knows only the number of the sensors, but ignores their error probabilities and cannot control their thresholds. A data adaptive approach to the problem is adopted, and combining P reports from Q independent distributed sensors through a least squares (LS) formulation to make a global decision is investigated. Such a fusion scheme does not entail strict stationarity of the noise environment nor strict invariance of the sensor error probabilities as is required in the NP formulation. The LS fusion scheme is analyzed in detail to simplify its form and determine its asymptotic behavior. Conditions of performance improvement as P increases and of quickness of such improvement are found. These conditions are usually valid in netted radar surveillance systems.     

Tracker and signal processing for the benchmark problem with unresolved targets

Radar signal processing is particularly important in tracking closely spaced targets and targets in the presence of sea-surface-induced multipath. Closely spaced targets can produce unresolved measurements when they occupy the same range cell of the radar. These issues are the salient features of the benchmark problem for tracking unresolved targets combined with radar management, for which this paper presents the only complete solution to date. In this paper a modified version of a recently developed maximum likelihood (ML) angle estimator, which can produce two measurements from a single (unresolved) detection, is presented. A modified generalized likelihood ratio test (GLRT) is also described to detect the presence of two unresolved targets. Sea-surface-induced multipath can produce a severe bias in the elevation angle measurement when the conventional monopulse ratio angle extractor method is used. A modified version of a recently developed ML angle extractor, which produces nearly unbiased elevation angle measurements and significantly improves the track accuracy, is presented. Efficient radar resource allocation algorithms for two closely spaced targets and targets flying close to the sea surface are also presented. Finally, the IMMPDAF (interacting multiple model estimator with probabilistic data association filter modules) is used to track these targets. It is found that a two-model IMMPDAF performs better than the three-model version used in the previous benchmark. Also, the IMMPDAF with a coordinated turn model works better than the one using a Wiener process acceleration model. The signal processing and tracking algorithms presented here, operating in a feedback manner, form a comprehensive solution to the most realistic tracking and radar management problem to date.     

Track segment association, fine-step IMM and initialization with Doppler for improved track performance

In this work we present a new track segment association technique to improve track continuity in large-scale target tracking problems where track breakages are common. A representative airborne early warning (AEW) system scenario, which is a challenging environment due to highly maneuvering targets, close target formations, large measurement errors, long sampling intervals, and low detection probabilities, provides the motivation for the new technique. Previously, a tracker using the interacting multiple model (IMM) estimator combined with an assignment algorithm was shown to be more reliable than a conventional Kalman filter based approach in tracking similar targets but it still yielded track breakages due to the difficult environment. In order to combine the broken track segments and improve track continuity, a new track segment association algorithm using a discrete optimization approach is presented. Simulation results show that track segment association yields significant improvements in mean track life as well as in position, speed, and course rms errors. Also presented is a modified one-point initialization technique with range rate measurements, which are typically ignored by other initialization techniques, and a fine-step IMM estimator, which improves performance in the presence of long revisit intervals. Another aspect that is investigated is the benefit of "deep" (multiframe or N-dimensional, with N > 2) association, which is shown to yield significant benefit in reducing the number of false tracks.     

UKF方法及其在方位跟踪问题中的应用

采用UKF(Unscented Kalman Filter)方法处理了平面内地面站对目标的方位跟踪的估计问题。目标的位置和速度由选定的高斯分布采样点来近似，在每个更新过程中，采样点随着状态方程传播并随着非线性测量方程变换，由此不但得到目标位置和速度的均值及较高的计算精度，而且避免了对非线性方程的线性化过程。仿真结果表明，UKF方法比传统的扩展卡尔曼滤波(EKF)算法有更高的估计精度，并能有效地克服非线性严重时，方位跟踪问题中很容易出现的滤波发散问题。     

New assignment-based data association for tracking move-stop-move targets

We present a new assignment-based algorithm for data association in tracking ground targets employing evasive move-stop-move maneuvers using ground moving target indicator (GMTI) reports obtained from an airborne sensor. To avoid detection by the GMTI sensor, the targets deliberately stop for some time before moving again. The sensor does not detect a target when the latter's radial velocity (along the line-of-sight from the sensor) falls below a certain minimum detectable velocity (MDV). Even in the absence of move-stop-move maneuvers, the detection has a less-than-unity probability (P/sub D/<1) due to obscuration and thresholding. Then, it is of interest, when a target is not detected, to develop a systematic technique that can distinguish between lack of detection due to P/sub D/<1 and lack of detection due to a stop (or a near stop). Previously, this problem was solved using a variable structure interacting multiple model (VS-IMM) estimator with a stopped target model (VS-IMM-ST) without explicitly addressing data association. We develop a novel "two-dummy" assignment approach for move-stop-move targets that considers both the problem of data association as well as filtering. Typically, in assignment-based data association a "dummy" measurement is used to denote the nondetection event. The use of the standard single-dummy assignment, which does not handle move-stop-move motion explicitly, can result in broken tracks. The new algorithm proposed here handles the evasive move-stop-move motion by introducing a second dummy measurement to represent nondetection due to the MDV. We also present a likelihood-ratio-based track deletion scheme for move-stop-move targets. Using this two-dummy data association algorithm, the track corresponding to a move-stop-move target is kept "alive' during missed detections both due to MDV and due to P/sub D/<1. In addition, one can obtain reductions in both rms estimation errors as well as the total number of track breakages.     

Expert Systems in the Fighter of the 1990s

In the Advanced Tactical Fighter (ATF) to be deployed in the 1990s, the role of expert systems will enhance mission success. This paper discusses the utilization of two expert systems for handling multisensor data fusion and situation assessment. In multisensor data fusion, each sensor operates over a different region of the surveillance volume asynchronously and provides different measurements. In some instances, more than one sensor may yield the same measurement but with a different measurement accuracy. In this regard, the paper describes, in layman's terms, a system block diagram for processing the autonomous sensor track files and the possible need for a ``smart' fusion processor. This expert system is shown to manage the sensor outputs in both the temporal and spatial domains to maximize target identification confidence as well as kinematic state vector accuracy. The paper delineates the features needed by the fusion expert in order to assign a quality factor to each composite track file entry. A second expert system uses the output from fusion and other mission-related data to formulate the best picture of the surveillance volume at hand. This second expert system will show how historical data and real-time sensor data are merged for purposes of display parameters to the pilot, weapon cueing, countermeasures response management, and feedback to the fusion expert processor for individual sensor communication and data collection direction. The paper concludes with a tabular summary of the subprocesses of which these two expert systems may consist.     

先进武装直升机火控系统研究与仿真

提出了~套适合于武装直升机火控系统的设计方案,特点是采用两自度可动炮,大大地增大了火控系统攻击范围;采用飞行器状态估值器、目标状态估值器,提高了直升机的测量精度。采用闭环火控算法,大大地提高了射击精度。最后,利用蒙特卡洛法对整个火控系统进行了大量仿真,结果表明该火控系统与现有的武装直升机火控系统相比攻击范围大,射击精度高、反应快且具有较强的抗干扰能力,并能在机载计算机上实时工作。     

基于均值-方差联合检验的航迹欺骗干扰识别

以集中式融合结构雷达网为研究背景,从电子战飞机(ECAV)产生虚假航迹的原理出发,针对真/假航迹空间分布差异,提出了基于均值-方差联合检验的航迹欺骗干扰识别技术。首先分析了真/假航迹的统计特性差异,然后利用多个时刻航迹的坐标差,并通过坐标差的协方差阵对角化和归一化处理来构造检验样本,最后利用似然比统计检验的方法实现了虚假航迹的识别。仿真结果表明该技术能够对航迹欺骗干扰进行有效的识别,在雷达测距精度、测角精度变化的条件下仍能保持较高的识别率。     

Bernoulli particle flter with observer altitude for maritime radiation source tracking in the presence of measurement uncertainty

For maritime radiation source target tracking in particular electronic counter measures（ECM）environment,there exists two main problems which can deteriorate the tracking performance of traditional approaches.The frst problem is the poor observability of the radiation source.The second one is the measurement uncertainty which includes the uncertainty of the target appearing/disappearing and the detection uncertainty（false and missed detections）.A novel approach is proposed in this paper for tracking maritime radiation source in the presence of measurement uncertainty.To solve the poor observability of maritime radiation source target,using the radiation source motion restriction,the observer altitude information is incorporated into the bearings-only tracking（BOT）method to obtain the unique target localization.Then the two uncertainties in the ECM environment are modeled by the random fnite set（RFS）theory and the Bernoulli fltering method with the observer altitude is adopted to solve the tracking problem of maritime radiation source in such context.Simulation experiments verify the validity of the proposed approach for tracking maritime radiation source,and also demonstrate the superiority of the method compared with the traditional integrated probabilistic data association（IPDA）method.The tracking performance under different conditions,particularly those involving different duration of radiation source opening and switching-off,indicates that the method to solve our problem is robust and effective.     

Time-varying autoregressive modeling of HRR radar signatures

A time-varying autoregressive (TVAR) model is used for the modeling and classification of high range resolution (HRR) radar signatures. In this approach, the TVAR coefficients are expanded by a low-order discrete Fourier transform (DFT). A least-squares (LS) estimator of the TVAR model parameters is presented, and the maximum likelihood (ML) approach for determining the model order is also presented. The validity of the TVAR modeling approach is demonstrated by comparing with other approaches in estimating time-varying spectra of synthetic signals. The estimated TVAR model parameters are also used as features in classifying HRR radar signatures with a neural network. In the experiment with two sets of noncooperating target identification (NCTI) data, about 93% of samples are correctly classified     

基于空间多特征综合推理的航迹航路关联

针对航迹分类问题,研究了基于空间多特征的综合推理在航路判读中的应用。首先根据空管系统对航路以及飞机飞行的要求,对航迹航路相关问题进行建模。然后根据已知的传感器系统输出的目标特性(位置,航向)与已知的多个航路信息分别进行相关度计算,构造基本信任函数,通过对其融合,得到目标单特征识别结果。其中,通过合理地引入复合类,实现了对目标类别的广义信任分类。建立了多特征折扣融合算法,对多特征基本信任函数进行折扣后再融合,得到目标多特征识别结果。仿真结果以及空管实际数据测试表明:该算法不仅可以实现航迹分类,同时可以有效地降低分类的错误率。     

Architectures and algorithms for track association and fusion

Target tracking using multiple sensors can provide better performance than using a single sensor. One approach to multiple target tracking with multiple sensors is to first perform single sensor tracking and then fuse the tracks from the different sensors. Two processing architectures for track fusion are presented: sensor to sensor track fusion, and sensor to system track fusion. Technical issues related to the statistical correlation between track estimation errors are discussed. Approaches for associating the tracks and combining the track state estimates of associated tracks that account for this correlation are described and compared by both theoretical analysis and Monte Carlo simulations     

EM-ML algorithm for track initialization using possibly noninformative data

Initializing and maintaining a track for a low observable (LO) (low SNR, low target detection probability and high false alarm rate) target can be very challenging because of the low information content of measurements. In addition, in some scenarios, target-originated measurements might not be present in many consecutive scans because of mispointing, target maneuvers, or erroneous preprocessing. That is, one might have a set of noninformative scans that could result in poor track initialization and maintenance. In this paper an algorithm based on the expectation-maximization (EM) algorithm combined with maximum likelihood (ML) estimation is presented for tracking slowly maneuvering targets in heavy clutter and possibly noninformative scans. The adaptive sliding-window EM-ML approach, which operates in batch mode, tries to reject or weight down noninformative scans using the Q-function in the M-step of the EM algorithm. It is shown that target features in the form of, for example, amplitude information (AI), can also be used to improve the estimates. In addition, performance bounds based on the supplemented EM (SEM) technique are also presented. The effectiveness of new algorithm is first demonstrated on a 78-frame long wave infrared (LWIR) data sequence consisting of an Fl Mirage fighter jet in heavy clutter. Previously, this scenario has been used as a benchmark for evaluating the performance of other track initialization algorithms. The new EM-ML estimator confirms the track by frame 20 while the ML-PDA (maximum likelihood estimator combined with probabilistic data association) algorithm, the IMM-MHT (interacting multiple model estimator combined with multiple hypothesis tracking) and the EVIM-PDA estimator previously required 28, 38, and 39 frames, respectively. The benefits of the new algorithm in terms of accuracy, early detection, and computational load are illustrated using simulated scenarios as well.     

Tracking multitarget in cluttered environment

A method for multitarget tracking and initiating tracking in a cluttered environment is proposed. The algorithm uses a sliding window of length uT (T is the sampling time) to keep the measurement sequence at time k. Instead of solving a large problem, the entire set of targets and measurements is divided into several clusters so that a number of smaller problems are solved independently. When a set of measurements is received, a new set of data-association hypotheses is formed for all the measurements lying in the validation gates within each cluster from time K-u+1 to K. The probability of each track history is computed, and, choosing the largest of these histories, the target measurement is updated with an adaptive state estimator. A covariance-matching technique is used to improve the accuracy of the adaptive state estimator. In several examples, the algorithm successfully tracks targets over a wide range of conditions