Optimal fusion rule for distributed detection with channel errors taking into account sensors' unreliability probability when protecting coastlines

Abstract

In this paper, algorithms that make decisions on the presence or absence of penetration on a protected object with both ideal and non-ideal communication channels are synthesised and analysed. Local sensor decision rules based on an energy detector and its performance characteristics are presented. We determine the dependencies of the total error probability on the energy parameter taking into account the energy emitted from the target at the level of local sensors and the channel's signal-to-noise ratio. The gain of the optimal fusion rule in efficiency compared to known fusion rules such as the LRT-BER and Chair-Varshney fusion rule is shown. The detection algorithm under possible sensor failure and its detection performance is also presented. With the unknown target location on a coastline, the detection rules are given and the detection performance is analysed.