Modified joint probabilistic data association with classification-aided for multitarget tracking

Joint probabilistic data association is an effective method for tracking multiple targets in clutter, but only the target kinematic information is used in measure-to-track association. If the kinematic likelihoods are similar for different closely spaced targets, there is ambiguity in using the kinematic information alone; the correct association probability will decrease in conventional joint probabilistic data association algorithm and track coalescence will occur easily. A modified algorithm of joint probabilistic data association with classification-aided is presented, which avoids track coalescence when tracking multiple neighboring targets. Firstly, an identification matrix is defined, which is used to simplify validation matrix to decrease computational complexity. Then, target class information is integrated into the data association process. Performance comparisons with and without the use of class information in JPDA are presented on multiple closely spaced maneuvering targets tracking problem. Simulation results quantify the benefits of classification-aided JPDA for improved multiple targets tracking, especially in the presence of association uncertainty in the kinematic measurement and target maneuvering. Simulation results indicate that the algorithm is valid.

Study on the Hungarian algorithm for the maximum likelihood data association problem

A specialized Hungarian algorithm was developed here for the maximum likelihood data association problem with two implementation versions due to presence of false alarms and missed detections. The maximum likelihood data association problem is formulated as a bipartite weighted matching problem. Its duality and the optimality conditions are given. The Hungarian algorithm with its computational steps, data structure and computational complexity is presented. The two implementation versions, Hungarian forest （HF） algorithm and Hungarian tree （HT） algorithm, and their combination with the naYve auction initialization are discussed. The computational results show that HT algorithm is slightly faster than HF algorithm and they are both superior to the classic Munkres algorithm.

FGAs-Based Data Association Algorithm for Multi-sensor Multi-target Tracking

A novel data association algorithm is developed based on fuzzy geneticalgorithms (FGAs). The static part of data association uses one FGA to determine both the lists ofcomposite measurements and the solutions of m-best S-D assignment. In the dynamic part of dataassociation, the results of the m-best S-D assignment are then used in turn, with a Kalman filterstate estimator, in a multi-population FGA-based dynamic 2D assignment algorithm to estimate thestates of the moving targets over time. Such an assignment-based data association algorithm isdemonstrated on a simulated passive sensor track formation and maintenance problem. The simulationresults show its feasibility in multi-sensor multi-target tracking. Moreover, algorithm developmentand real-time problems are briefly discussed.

Study on data association algorithm of multi-passive-sensor location system

Aiming at three-passive-sensor location system, a generalized 3-dimension （3-D） assignment model is constructed based on property information, and a multi-target programming model is proposed based on direction-finding and property fusion information. The multi-target programming model is transformed into a single target programming problem to resolve, and its data association result is compared with the results which are solved by using one kind of information only. Simulation experiments show the effectiveness of the multi-target programming algorithm with higher data association accuracy and less calculation.

Data association based on target signal classification information

In most of the passive tracking systems, only the target kinematical information is used in the measurement-to-track association, which results in error tracking in a multitarget environment, where the targets are too close to each other. To enhance the tracking accuracy, the target signal classification information （TSCI） should be used to improve the data association. The TSCI is integrated in the data association process using the JPDA （joint probabilistic data association）. The use of the TSCI in the data association can improve discrimination by yielding a purer track and preserving continuity. To verify the validity of the application of TSCI, two simulation experiments are done on an air target-tracing problem, that is, one using the TSCI and the other not using the TSCI. The final comparison shows that the use of the TSCI can effectively improve tracking accuracy.

Scene-adaptive hierarchical data association and depth-invariant part-based appearance model for indoor multiple objects tracking

Indoor multi-tracking is more challenging compared with outdoor tasks due to frequent occlusion, view-truncation, severe scale change and pose variation, which may bring considerable unreliability and ambiguity to target representation and data association. So discriminative and reliable target representation is vital for accurate data association in multi-tracking. Pervious works always combine bunch of features to increase the discriminative power, but this is prone to error accumulation and unnecessary computational cost, which may increase ambiguity on the contrary. Moreover, reliability of a same feature in different scenes may vary a lot, especially for currently widespread network cameras, which are settled in various and complex indoor scenes, previous fixed feature selection schemes cannot meet general requirements. To properly handle these problems, first, we propose a scene-adaptive hierarchical data association scheme, which adaptively selects features with higher reliability on target representation in the applied scene, and gradually combines features to the minimum requirement of discriminating ambiguous targets; second, a novel depth-invariant part-based appearance model using RGB-D data is proposed which makes the appearance model robust to scale change, partial occlusion and view-truncation. The introduce of RGB-D data increases the diversity of features, which provides more types of features for feature selection in data association and enhances the final multi-tracking performance. We validate our method from several aspects including scene-adaptive feature selection scheme, hierarchical data association scheme and RGB-D based appearance modeling scheme in various indoor scenes, which demonstrates its effectiveness and efficiency on improving multi-tracking performances in various indoor scenes.

SEQUENTIAL ALGORITHM FOR MULTISENSOR PROBABILISTIC DATA ASSOCIATION

Based upon a multisensor sequential processing filter, the target states in a3D Cartesian system are projected into the measurement space of each sensor to extend thejoint probabilistic data association (JPDA) algorithm into the multisensor tracking systemsconsisting of heterogeneous sensors for the data association.

New data association technique based on ACO with directional information considered

Due to the advantages of ant colony optimization （ACO） in solving complex problems, a new data association algorithm based on ACO in a cluttered environment called DACDA is proposed. In the proposed method, the concept for tour and the length of tour are redefined. Additionally, the directional information is incorporated into the proposed method because it is one of the most important factors that affects the performance of data association. Kalman filter is employed to estimate target states. Computer simulation results show that the proposed method could carry out data association in an acceptable CPU time, and the correct data association rate is higher than that obtained by the data association （DA） algorithm not combined with directional information.

Novel Grouped Probability Data Association Algorithm for MIMO Detection

To bridge the performance gap between original probability data association （PDA） algorithm and the optimum maximum a posterior （MAP） algorithm for multi-input multi-output （MIMO） detection, a grouped PDA （GP-PDA） detection algorithm is proposed. The proposed GP-PDA method divides all the transmit antennas into groups, and then updates the symbol probabilities group by group using PDA computations. In each group, joint a posterior probability （APP） is computed to obtain the APP of a single symbol in this group, like the MAP algorithm. Such new algorithm combines the characters of MAP and PDA. MAP and original PDA algorithm can be regarded as a special case of the proposed GP-PDA. Simulations show that the proposed GP-PDA provides a performance and complexity trade, off between original PDA and MAP algorithm.

A combination algorithm of Chaos optimization and genetic algorithm and its application in maneuvering multiple targets data association

The most important problem in targets tracking is data association which may be represented as a sort of constraint combinational optimization problem. Chaos optimization and adaptive genetic algorithm were used to deal with the problem of multi-targets data association separately. Based on the analysis of the limitation of chaos optimization and genetic algorithm, a new chaos genetic optimization combination algorithm was presented. This new algorithm first applied the "rough" search of chaos optimization to initialize the population of GA, then optimized the population by real-coded adaptive GA. In this way, GA can not only jump out of the "trap" of local optimal results easily but also increase the rate of convergence. And the new method can also avoid the complexity and time-consumed limitation of conventional way. The simulation results show that the combination algorithm can obtain higher correct association percent and the effect of association is obviously superior to chaos optimization or genetic algorithm separately. This method has better convergence property as well as time property than the conventional ones.

Probabilistic data association algorithm based on ensemble Kalman filter with observation iterated update

Aiming at improving the observation uncertainty caused by limited accuracy of sensors,and the uncertainty of observation source in clutters,through the dynamic combination of ensemble Kalman filter(EnKF) and probabilistic data association(PDA),a novel probabilistic data association algorithm based on ensemble Kalman filter with observation iterated update is proposed.Firstly,combining with the advantages of data assimilation handling observation uncertainty in EnKF,an observation iterated update strategy is used to realize optimization of EnKF in structure.And the object is to further improve state estimation precision of nonlinear system.Secondly,the above algorithm is introduced to the framework of PDA,and the object is to increase reliability and stability of candidate echo acknowledgement.In addition,in order to decrease computation complexity in the combination of improved EnKF and PDA,the maximum observation iterated update mechanism is applied to the iteration of PDA.Finally,simulation results verify the feasibility and effectiveness of the proposed algorithm by a typical target tracking scene in clutters.

Loopy belief propagation based data association for extended target tracking

The data association problem of multiple extended target tracking is very challenging because each target may generate multiple measurements.Recently,the belief propagation based multiple target tracking algorithms with high efficiency have been a research focus.Different from the belief propagation based Extended Target tracking based on Belief Propagation(ET-BP)algorithm proposed in our previous work,a new graphical model formulation of data association for multiple extended target tracking is proposed in this paper.The proposed formulation can be solved by the Loopy Belief Propagation(LBP)algorithm.Furthermore,the simplified measurement set in the ET-BP algorithm is modified to improve tracking accuracy.Finally,experiment results show that the proposed algorithm has better performance than the ET-BP and joint probabilistic data association based on the simplified measurement set algorithms in terms of accuracy and efficiency.Additionally,the convergence of the proposed algorithm is verified in the simulations.

A gate size estimation algorithm for data association filters

The problem of forming validation regions or gates for new sensor measurements obtained when tracking targets in clutter is considered. Since the gate size is an integral part of the data association filter, this paper is intended to describe a way of estimating the gate size via the performance of the data association filter. That is, the gate size can be estimated by looking for the optimal performance of the data association filter. Simulations show that this estimation method of the gate size offers advantages over the common and classical estimation methods of the gate size, especially in a heavy clutter and/or false alarm environment.

Multi-target pig tracking algorithm based on joint probability data association and particle filter

In order to evaluate the health status of pigs in time,monitor accurately the disease dynamics of live pigs,and reduce the morbidity and mortality of pigs in the existing large-scale farming model,pig detection and tracking technology based on machine vision are used to monitor the behavior of pigs.However,it is challenging to efficiently detect and track pigs with noise caused by occlusion and interaction between targets.In view of the actual breeding conditions of pigs and the limitations of existing behavior monitoring technology of an individual pig,this study proposed a method that used color feature,target centroid and the minimum circumscribed rectangle length-width ratio as the features to build a multi-target tracking algorithm,which based on joint probability data association and particle filter.Experimental results show the proposed algorithm can quickly and accurately track pigs in the video,and it is able to cope with partial occlusions and recover the tracks after temporary loss.

Distributed interacted multisensor joint probabilistic data association algorithm based on D-S theory

In order to resolve the multisensor multiplied maneuvering target tracking problem, this paper presents a distributed interacted multiple model multisensor joint probabilistic data association algorithm （DIMM-MSJPDA）. First of all, the interacted multiple model joint probabilistic data association algorithm is applied to each sensor, and then the state estimation, estimation covariance, model probability, combined innovation, innovation covariance are delivered to the fusion center. Then, the tracks from each sensor are correlated and the D-S evidence theory is used to gain the model probability of an identical target. Finally, the ultimate state estimation of each target is calculated according to the new model probability, and the state estimation is transmitted to each sensor. Simulations are designed to test the tracking performance of DIMM-MSJPDA algorithm. The results show that the use of DIMM-MSJPDA algorithm enables the distributed multisensor system to track multiplied maneuvering targets and its tracking performance is much better than that of IMMJPDA algorithm.

New optimal algorithm of data association for multi-passive-sensor location system

In dense target and false detection scenario of four time difference of arrival （TDOA） for multi-passive-sensor location system, the global optimal data association algorithm has to be adopted. In view of the heavy calculation burden of the traditional optimal assignment algorithm, this paper proposes a new global optimal assignment algorithm and a 2-stage association algorithm based on a statistic test. Compared with the traditional optimal algorithm, the new optimal algorithm avoids the complicated operations for finding the target position before we calculate association cost; hence, much of the procedure time is saved. In the 2-stage association algorithm, a large number of false location points are eliminated from candidate associations in advance. Therefore, the operation is further decreased, and the correct data association probability is improved in varying degrees. Both the complexity analyses and simulation results can verify the effectiveness of the new algorithms.

DATA FUSION ALGORITHM BASED ON STATE AND ATTRIBUTE PARAMETER

A new data fusion algorithm is presented. The new algorithm has two steps. First, three basic probability assignments dependent on different attribute parameters with Demspter fusion rule are processed. Using the fusion results, one can calculate the evidence interval of the proposition that “the return is from target”. Then based on the magnitude of the center of the evidence interval, one can reject some false alarms, so as to cut down the number of clutters accepted by the filter gate. Second, the attribute parameter likelihood function(APLF, for short) and kinematic measurement likelihood function are used to form a joint likelihood function. A method is also proposed for calculating APLF. As for APLF, it is found and proved that there are differences between similar targets and dissimlar targets. By using the differences, one can distinguish adjacent targets more efficiently. In a word, the technique presented in this paper is an integrated adaptive data association fusion algorithm. The advantages of the algorithm are discussed and demonstrated via single and multiple targets tracking simulations. In simulation, the target maneuver, the presence of clutter and the varying of parameters are taken into consideration.

A New Method Based on Association Rules Mining and Geo-filter for Mining Spatial Association Knowledge

Association rule mining methods, as a set of important data mining tools, could be used for mining spatial association rules of spatial data. However, applications of these methods are limited for mining results containing large number of redundant rules. In this paper, a new method named Geo-Filtered Association Rules Mining(GFARM) is proposed to effectively eliminate the redundant rules. An application of GFARM is performed as a case study in which association rules are discovered between building land distribution and potential driving factors in Wuhan, China from 1995 to 2015. Ten sets of regular sampling grids with different sizes are used for detecting the influence of multi-scales on GFARM. Results show that the proposed method can filter 50%–70% of redundant rules. GFARM is also successful in discovering spatial association pattern between building land distribution and driving factors.

Hydraulic metal structure health diagnosis based on data mining technology

In conjunction with association rules for data mining, the connections between testing indices and strong and weak association rules were determined, and new derivative rules were obtained by further reasoning. Association rules were used to analyze correlation and check consistency between indices. This study shows that the judgment obtained by weak association rules or non-association rules is more accurate and more credible than that obtained by strong association rules. When the testing grades of two indices in the weak association rules are inconsistent, the testing grades of indices are more likely to be erroneous, and the mistakes are often caused by human factors. Clustering data mining technology was used to analyze the reliability of a diagnosis, or to perform health diagnosis directly. Analysis showed that the clustering results are related to the indices selected, and that if the indices selected are more significant, the characteristics of clustering results are also more significant, and the analysis or diagnosis is more credible. The indices and diagnosis analysis function produced by this study provide a necessary theoretical foundation and new ideas for the development of hydraulic metal structure health diagnosis technology.

A Mechanism for Dynamic and Consistent Product Information Association

The dynamic and consistent information association among vtrious application activities in the full life cycle of a product is a key to the assurance of the cooperation among different application domains. In order to establish and maintain the association, a design-process-based product association model was proposed. This model takes advantage of the generic naming mechanism, the private protocol for history-based form feature modeling, on which the Data Association Protocol is built. Hence the model can provide the way of constructing and maintaining the information linkage among different product developing stages naturally and dynamically while keeping the privacy of the feature coding. A case study illustrates the utilities of the model in the data linking between design model and process planning model.