Student Paper 1.11
On alpha-beta target tracking: the probability of target escape

Sofia Daka - Drexel University, Paul R. Kalata - Drexel University

Tue, 27 April 2004, 9:30 AM - 10:20 AM

Abstract

This paper considers the discrete time Kalman and H∞ approach to the two-state α-β target tracking problem. A closed form steady-state solution for the α-β parameter selection for H∞ tracker, which is similar to the Tracking Index process for the MSE (Kalman) criterion, is presented. The H∞ and Kalman processes model the radar/target system with the objective to keep the target within the radar beamwidth. The two trackers will be compared considering two cases that differ in the input maneuver disturbances, random maneuver and constant acceleration. An example illustrates the performance of the α-β tracker with respect to keeping the target within the beamwidth in terms of probability of escape.

Bio

Paul R. Kalata received his Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from Northwestern University and his Masters and Doctoral of Science from Illinois Institute of Technology, Chicago. Dr. Kalata has worked at Sandia National Laboratories in Livermore, California and RCA, Missile and Surface Radar in Moorestown (now Lockheed Martin), New Jersey. Dr Kalata is currently with the Electrical and computer engineering department at Drexel University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He has over 30 years of involvement in real time controls systems, optimal (Kalman) and suboptimal estimation, and is currently investigating H-infinity filtering. While in RCA Missile and Surface Radar Dr. Kalata worked on target tracking and intercept systems where he first developed the tracking index concept for alpha-beta-gamma target trackers.