Multipath Maximum Likelihood Probabilistic Multihypothesis Tracker for Low Observable Targets

Abstract

In many practical scenarios with multipath propagation, one target may generate multiple detections in one scan. Proper use of multipath-induced measurements can improve the detection of very low observable (VLO) targets. In this paper, a true multitarget tracker, the joint multipath maximum likelihood probabilistic multihypothesis tracker (JMP-ML-PMHT) is proposed to address this problem. The standard ML-PMHT is extended to incorporate multipath detections and jointly track multiple VLO targets. The Cramer–Rao lower bound with multipath detections is derived. Simulation results with an over-the-horizon-radar scenario show that the JMP-ML-PMHT can detect and track multiple VLO targets by effectively utilizing the information in multipath measurements.