Real-time sensor fusion technique for acoustic and seismic sensors

Abstract

Spatially distributed network of sensor nodes with onboard seismic and acoustic sensors is an important class of emerging networked systems for various security applications. One of a main task in these applications is target detection. In order to achieve this with improved accuracy, it is necessary that sensors process and share information efficiently. This paper presents a novel approach to fuse the data of acoustic and seismic sensors based on correlation measures so that high detection range and/or detection rate can be achieved. This method calculates the weighted values of both the sensors and the values of their weights are adjusted as the change of correlation measures is observed. It gives greater weighted value to the greater correlation measure of the sensor signals, and vice versa. One of the advantages of this method is that the weights of the sensors are adjusted dynamically for real-time data. The method does not depend on prior information of the sensor's data. This method considers the limited range of both the acoustic and the seismic sensors and fuses the signals in terms of maximum possible detection range. In case of failure of one of the sensor, the method still provides the target information.