Multiple model PHD filter for tracking sharply maneuvering targets using recursive RANSAC based adaptive birth estimation

An algorithm to track multiple sharply maneuvering targets without prior knowledge about new target birth is proposed. These targets are capable of achieving sharp maneuvers within a short period of time, such as drones and agile missiles.The probability hypothesis density (PHD) filter, which propagates only the first-order statistical moment of the full target posterior, has been shown to be a computationally efficient solution to multitarget tracking problems. However, the standard PHD filter operates on the single dynamic model and requires prior information about target birth distribution, which leads to many limitations in terms of practical applications. In this paper,we introduce a nonzero mean, white noise turn rate dynamic model and generalize jump Markov systems to multitarget case to accommodate sharply maneuvering dynamics. Moreover, to adaptively estimate newborn targets’information, a measurement-driven method based on the recursive random sampling consensus (RANSAC) algorithm is proposed. Simulation results demonstrate that the proposed method achieves significant improvement in tracking multiple sharply maneuvering targets with adaptive birth estimation.

Improved pruning algorithm for Gaussian mixture probability hypothesis density filter

With the increment of the number of Gaussian components, the computation cost increases in the Gaussian mixture probability hypothesis density(GM-PHD) filter. Based on the theory of Chen et al, we propose an improved pruning algorithm for the GM-PHD filter, which utilizes not only the Gaussian components’ means and covariance, but their weights as a new criterion to improve the estimate accuracy of the conventional pruning algorithm for tracking very closely proximity targets. Moreover, it solves the end-less while-loop problem without the need of a second merging step. Simulation results show that this improved algorithm is easier to implement and more robust than the formal ones.

Kernel density estimation and marginalized-particle based probability hypothesis density filter for multi-target tracking

In order to improve the performance of the probability hypothesis density(PHD) algorithm based particle filter(PF) in terms of number estimation and states extraction of multiple targets, a new probability hypothesis density filter algorithm based on marginalized particle and kernel density estimation is proposed, which utilizes the idea of marginalized particle filter to enhance the estimating performance of the PHD. The state variables are decomposed into linear and non-linear parts. The particle filter is adopted to predict and estimate the nonlinear states of multi-target after dimensionality reduction, while the Kalman filter is applied to estimate the linear parts under linear Gaussian condition. Embedding the information of the linear states into the estimated nonlinear states helps to reduce the estimating variance and improve the accuracy of target number estimation. The meanshift kernel density estimation, being of the inherent nature of searching peak value via an adaptive gradient ascent iteration, is introduced to cluster particles and extract target states, which is independent of the target number and can converge to the local peak position of the PHD distribution while avoiding the errors due to the inaccuracy in modeling and parameters estimation. Experiments show that the proposed algorithm can obtain higher tracking accuracy when using fewer sampling particles and is of lower computational complexity compared with the PF-PHD.

Free clustering optimal particle probability hypothesis density(PHD) filter

As to the fact that it is difficult to obtain analytical form of optimal sampling density and tracking performance of standard particle probability hypothesis density(P-PHD) filter would decline when clustering algorithm is used to extract target states,a free clustering optimal P-PHD(FCO-P-PHD) filter is proposed.This method can lead to obtainment of analytical form of optimal sampling density of P-PHD filter and realization of optimal P-PHD filter without use of clustering algorithms in extraction target states.Besides,as sate extraction method in FCO-P-PHD filter is coupled with the process of obtaining analytical form for optimal sampling density,through decoupling process,a new single-sensor free clustering state extraction method is proposed.By combining this method with standard P-PHD filter,FC-P-PHD filter can be obtained,which significantly improves the tracking performance of P-PHD filter.In the end,the effectiveness of proposed algorithms and their advantages over other algorithms are validated through several simulation experiments.

A novel SMC-PHD filter based on particle compensation

As a typical implementation of the probability hypothesis density(PHD) filter, sequential Monte Carlo PHD(SMC-PHD) is widely employed in highly nonlinear systems. However, the particle impoverishment problem introduced by the resampling step, together with the high computational burden problem, may lead to performance degradation and restrain the use of SMC-PHD filter in practical applications. In this work, a novel SMC-PHD filter based on particle compensation is proposed to solve above problems. Firstly, according to a comprehensive analysis on the particle impoverishment problem, a new particle generating mechanism is developed to compensate the particles. Then, all the particles are integrated into the SMC-PHD filter framework. Simulation results demonstrate that, in comparison with the SMC-PHD filter, proposed PC-SMC-PHD filter is capable of overcoming the particle impoverishment problem, as well as improving the processing rate for a certain tracking accuracy in different scenarios.

SMC-PHD based multi-target track-before-detect with nonstandard point observations model

Detection and tracking of multi-target with unknown and varying number is a challenging issue, especially under the condition of low signal-to-noise ratio(SNR). A modified multi-target track-before-detect(TBD) method was proposed to tackle this issue using a nonstandard point observation model. The method was developed from sequential Monte Carlo(SMC)-based probability hypothesis density(PHD) filter, and it was implemented by modifying the original calculation in update weights of the particles and by adopting an adaptive particle sampling strategy. To efficiently execute the SMC-PHD based TBD method, a fast implementation approach was also presented by partitioning the particles into multiple subsets according to their position coordinates in 2D resolution cells of the sensor. Simulation results show the effectiveness of the proposed method for time-varying multi-target tracking using raw observation data.

Improved Flight Conflict Detection Algorithm Based on Gauss-Hermite Particle Filter

In order to improve the accuracy of free flight conflict detection and reduce the false alarm rate, an improved flight conflict detection algorithm is proposed based on Gauss-Hermite particle filter（GHPF）. The algorithm improves the traditional flight conflict detection method in two aspects：（i） New observation data are integrated into system state transition probability, and Gauss-Hermite Filter（GHF） is used for generating the importance density function.（ii） GHPF is used for flight trajectory prediction and flight conflict probability calculation. The experimental results show that the accuracy of conflict detection and tracing with GHPF is better than that with standard particle filter. The detected conflict probability is more precise with GHPF, and GHPF is suitable for early free flight conflict detection.

Convolution Kernels Implementation of Cardinalized Probability Hypothesis Density Filter

The probability hypothesis density （PHD） propagates the posterior intensity in place of the poste- rior probability density of the multi-target state. The cardinalized PHD （CPHD） recursion is a generalization of PHD recursion, which jointly propagates the posterior intensity function and posterior cardinality distribution. A number of sequential Monte Carlo （SMC） implementations of PHD and CPHD filters （also known as SMC- PHD and SMC-CPHD filters, respectively） for general non-linear non-Gaussian models have been proposed. However, these approaches encounter the limitations when the observation variable is analytically unknown or the observation noise is null or too small. In this paper, we propose a convolution kernel approach in the SMC-CPHD filter. The simuIation results show the performance of the proposed filter on several simulated case studies when compared to the SMC-CPHD filter.