Enabling netted sensor fusion for anti-submarine warfare in uncertain and variable environments - MP 60-10
Navy SBIR FY2010.2


Sol No.: Navy SBIR FY2010.2
Topic No.: N102-145
Topic Title: Enabling netted sensor fusion for anti-submarine warfare in uncertain and variable environments - MP 60-10
Proposal No.: N102-145-1207
Firm: Metron, Inc.
1818 Library Street
Suite 600
Reston, Virginia 20190-6242
Contact: Terence Bazow
Phone: (703) 326-2831
Web Site: www.metsci.com
Abstract: This proposal describes an approach for multi-sensor, multi-target SR&G based on theoretically sound Bayesian probability. A key aspect of our approach is employment of a Rao-Blackwell (marginalized) particle filter to "jointly" track all relevant state parameters and their uncertainty. The filter state parameters are sensor biases, navigation, biases, sensing platform kinematics (position and velocity), as well as the state (position, velocity and classification) of tracked targets. Sophisticated filtering algorithms are required since the bias and measurement uncertainties impact the system dynamics in complicated, nonlinear ways: hence, traditional Kalman filters are inappropriate. A particle filter represents an arbitrary state probability distribution and does not require a linear system model. Particle filtering methods are ideal for systems with highly nonlinear dynamics and high levels of uncertainty. Furthermore, particle filters are readily extensible to discrete and categorical parameters such as class labels. A second key innovation is the use of target feature information and classification information as well as kinematic information to perform the track-to-system data association. The MAP association over all particles will feed forward/backward to the joint particle filter to perform joint target/bias tracking.
Benefits: The Phase I project will result in a prototype sensor registration and gridlock system. The prototype will support network level command and control, data fusion, target detection, localization and classification for distributed multi-sensor, multi-platform and multi-target ASW information processing systems. A test and evaluation prototype system and performance analysis will lead to Phase to system specification and design.

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