Joint integrated track splitting for multi-path multi-target tracking using OTHR detections

Abstract

In target tracking applications where an over-the-horizon radar (OTHR) is used to gather measurements, one target may generate more than one measurement at each scan due to the multi-path propagation effect. However, traditional tracking methods obtain the data association probabilities based on track-to-measurement data association events under the assumption that each target can generate at most one detection at each scan, leading to poor performances if these methods are applied to multiple detection applications such as OTHR applications. In this paper, we develop a multi-path multi-target tracking algorithm entitled multiple detection joint integrated track splitting (MD-JITS). This novel algorithm jointly solves the measurement origin uncertainty and measurement path model uncertainty. The probability of target existence (PTE) is utilized in the OTHR application as a track quality measure for true track confirmation and false track discrimination. The data association algorithm of MD-JITS the proposed algorithm is realized based on measurement cells that each measurement cell consists of one or more of the validated measurements, while considering the measurement path model. The proposed algorithm is compared with the multiple detection joint integrated probabilistic data association (MD-JIPDA) algorithm in a multi-target crossing scenario, implementing the OTHR system in the presence of clutter and failed target detections, to demonstrate the desired effectiveness.