Improved Contact Association
Navy SBIR FY2008.2


Sol No.: Navy SBIR FY2008.2
Topic No.: N08-168
Topic Title: Improved Contact Association
Proposal No.: N082-168-0052
Firm: Numerica Corporation
4850 Hahns Peak Drive
Suite 200
Loveland, Colorado 80538
Contact: Benjamin Slocumb
Phone: (970) 461-2422
Web Site: www.numerica.us
Abstract: The US Navy is developing an Undersea Warfare Decision Support System (USW-DSS), the purpose of which is to provide a net-centric capability to support fleet commanders. A significant advantage the architecture will provide is the integration of the C4I domain and the combat systems. Since many different types of sensors will be integrated, a fundamental need is a robust mechanism for the association and fusion the multi-sensor data and for generating a Common Operational Picture (COP). Classical approaches to association only use kinematic data, and feature data, measured by the individual sensors, may be used to augment the kinematic data to assist in the association problem. The objective of this program is to develop a feature/classification-aided track association algorithm that is compatible with the following: (i) the non-commensurate track and feature data that is common for the sensors expected in the USW-DSS architecture; (ii) the requirements for implementing the COP architecture; (iii) the requirements for implementing multi-hypothesis tracking. The solution will be evaluated using an extensive multi-sensor simulation suite, and a variety of metrics will be applied to assess tracking the communication link load performance.
Benefits: The anticipated outcome is the development of a proof-of-concept USW-DSS association and fusion system that is based on MHT technology and incorporates feature and classification-aided association techniques and applies COP rules. The expected benefits of this work are the following: it will develop a new distributed tracking algorithm and architecture for association and fusion of non-commensurate data from USW-DSS sensors; a prototype of the new algorithm and architecture will be made; evaluations of the benefits of the association and fusion approach will be performed in an extensive simulation suite; the impact of the fusion and classification aided methods on the communication link load will be assessed.

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