Three dimensional passive underwater target motion analysis using correlated data fusion

In this paper a new method of passive underwater TMA (target motion analysis) using data fusion is presented. The findings of this research are based on an understanding that there is a powerful sonar system that consists of many types of sonar but with one own-ship, and that different target parameter measurements can be obtained simultaneously. For the analysis 3 data measurements, passive bearing, elevation and multipath time-delay, are used, which are divided into two groups: a group with estimates of two preliminary target parameter obtained by dealing with each group measurement independently, and a group where correlated estimates are sent to a fusion center where the correlation between two data groups are considered so that the passive underwater TMA is realized. Simulation results show that curves of parameter estimation errors obtained by using the data fusion have fast convergence and the estimation accuracy is noticeably improved. The TMA algorithm presented is verified and is of practical significance because it is easy to be realized in one ship.