Bernoulli filter based algorithm for joint target tracking and classification in a cluttered environment

Abstract

In this paper, single-target tracking using radar measurements is addressed. Recently, algorithms based on Bernoulli random finite sets have proved efficient in a cluttered environment. However, in Bayesian approaches, the choice of the motion model impacts the trajectory estimation accuracy. To select an appropriate set of motion models, a joint tracking and classification (JTC) algorithm can be used. The principle is to consider different target classes depending on their maneuvrability, each of them being associated to a set of motion models. In this context, additional information such as a target length extent measurement can improve both classification and trajectory estimation. Therefore, we propose a multiple-model Bernoulli filter to perform JTC. To jointly estimate the trajectory and the target length which is constant, a Rao-Blackwellized approach is considered. Another contribution is that a bank of probabilistic data association filters is run instead of Kalman filters to account for false detections.