Joint IMM/MHT Tracking and Identification for Multi-Sensor Ground Target Tracking

After giving an overview of the design of the IMM/MHT tracker, this paper discusses a joint tracking and identification approach to the multi-sensor ground target tracking problem. It is widely recognized that the requirements for the continuous tracking of important targets can only be achieved by incorporating feature data and behavioral information. Consequently, a Dempster-Shafer approach has been applied in the integration of multi-sensor classification with the target behavior so that an estimate of target type may included in the data association decision process. The ID information that may be potentially derived from HRR profiles may be combined with conventional IMM/MHT tracking techniques in order to aid the track-observation association process. Issues such as the inevitable loss of track identity due to track switching as well as the presence of confusers must be addressed. Thus, the paper discusses methods to include the effect of confusers and to efficiently reestablish track identity after a track-switch