Reduced state estimators for consistent tracking of maneuvering targets

Linear Kalman filters, using fewer states than required to completely specify target maneuvers, are commonly used to track maneuvering targets. Such reduced state Kalman filters have also been used as component filters of interacting multiple model (IMM) estimators. These reduced state Kalman filters rely on white plant noise to compensate for not knowing the maneuver - they are not necessarily optimal reduced state estimators nor are they necessarily consistent. To be consistent, the state estimation and innovation covariances must include the actual errors during a maneuver. Blair and Bar-Shalom have shown an example where a linear Kalman filter used as an inconsistent reduced state estimator paradoxically yields worse errors with multisensor tracking than with single sensor tracking. We provide examples showing multiple facets of Kalman filter and IMM inconsistency when tracking maneuvering targets with single and multiple sensors. An optimal reduced state estimator derived in previous work resolves the consistency issues of linear Kalman filters and IMM estimators.     

Reduced state estimator for systems with parametric inputs

A reduced state estimator is derived for systems with bounded parameters as inputs. Optimal filter gains are derived for minimizing the total covariance of the estimation error due to measurement noise and parameter uncertainty. It is shown that these filter gains for a two-state system with a Gaussian parameter satisfy the Kalata relation in steady state. Equations are also derived for optimally filtering measurements in arbitrary time order. This reduced state estimator offers novelties over a traditional Kalman filter in its application to the class of problems considered. The total error covariance, which is minimized, makes no use of plant noise. Furthermore, the filter is easier to optimize in high dimensional and multiple sensor applications as well as in processing out-of-sequence measurements.