Probabilistic Data Association Filter Research Articles

A Novel Tracking Algorithm Based on Waveform Selection for Maneuvering Targets in Clutter

The cognition radar utilizes the dynamic waveform configuration to adapt to the environment to improve tracking performance. A novel tracking algorithm based on waveform selection is proposed to address the maneuvering aircraft tracking problem in clutter. Based on the modified current statistical (MCS) model, the modified probabilistic data association filter (MPDAF) is integrated with the square-root cubature Kalman filter (SCKF) to deal with the nonlinear measurement and the clutter. Additionally, the waveform library is established by applying the fractional Fourier transform (FRFT) to a base waveform, and a direct method is proposed to select the optimal waveform to minimize the posterior state error covariance matrix. The simulation results showed that, compared with the filters with the fixed waveform as well as the state-of-the-art algorithms, the proposed algorithm achieved higher estimation precision and lower track loss percentage while maintaining a low computational burden.

AFJPDA: A Multiclass Multi-Object Tracking with Appearance Feature-Aided Joint Probabilistic Data Association

This study addresses a multiclass multi-object tracking problem in consideration of clutters in the environment. To alleviate issues with clutters, we propose the appearance feature-aided joint probabilistic data association filter. We also implemented simple adaptive gating logic for the computational efficiency and track maintenance logic, which can save the lost track for re-association after occlusion or missed detection. The performance of the proposed algorithm was evaluated against a state-of-the-art multi-object tracking algorithm using both multiclass multi-object simulation and real-world aerial images. The evaluation results indicate significant performance improvement of the proposed method against the benchmark state-of-the-art algorithm, especially in terms of reduction in identity switches and fragmentation.

Domain-knowledge-aided airborne ground moving targets tracking

This paper investigates the problem of traffic surveillance using an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) and proposes a domain-knowledge-aided airborne ground moving target tracking algorithm. To improve the accuracy of multiple target tracking, the proposed algorithm incorporates domain knowledge into the joint probabilistic data association (JPDA) filter as state constraints. The domain knowledge considered in this paper includes both road information extracted from a given map and local traffic regulations. Conventional track update method is modified to enhance the capability of recognition of temporarily track loss. A variable structure multiple model (VS-MM) method is developed to assign the road segment to a given target. The main contribution of this paper is that we establish a comprehensive framework for target tracking with the aid of domain knowledge and analyze the effect of diverse constraints on target tracking performance, while the limitations involve only 2-D target behaviors are considered, and the sophisticated interactions between targets are neglected. The effectiveness of proposed algorithm is demonstrated through extensive numerical simulations.

Distributed Bayesian target tracking with reduced communication: Likelihood consensus 2.0

The likelihood consensus (LC) enables Bayesian target tracking in a decentralized sensor network with possibly nonlinear and non-Gaussian sensor characteristics. Here, we propose an evolved LC methodology – dubbed LC 2.0 – with significantly reduced intersensor communication. LC 2.0 uses multiple refinements of the original LC including a sparsity-promoting calculation of expansion coefficients, the use of a B-spline dictionary, a distributed adaptive calculation of the relevant state-space region, and efficient binary representations. We consider the use of the proposed LC 2.0 within a distributed particle filter and within a distributed particle-based probabilistic data association filter. Our simulation results demonstrate that a reduction of intersensor communication by a factor of about 190 can be obtained without compromising the tracking performance.

A novel joint multi-target detection and tracking approach based on Bayes joint decision and estimation

This paper proposes a novel joint decision and estimation (JDE) solution for the multi-target detection and tracking (MDT) problem. MDT aims to jointly detect the number of targets and estimate their states, which is essentially a JDE problem since detection and tracking are highly coupled. Thus, a joint solution which can utilize the coupling is preferable. However, the existing JDE approach has either poor performance or excessive design parameters without considering the MDT problem realities, i.e., the losses that different decisions may lead to. Therefore, we propose a compact conditional JDE (CCJDE)-based MDT method with less design parameters but superior performance. Specifically, we propose a CCJDE-based MDT risk which unifies the detection and tracking risks in a compact way. Then, we derive the joint detection and tracking solution accounting for their couplings, where the joint probabilistic data association filter is adopted due to its advantageous performance and the adaptability to the JDE framework. Then, an efficient CCJDE-MDT algorithm is developed. Besides, some parameter designing guidelines are presented by considering the MDT realities. Simulation results verify the effectiveness of the proposed CCJDE-MDT method, which outperforms the traditional decision-then-estimation in joint performance and also beats the existing recursive joint decision and estimation(RJDE) method in many cases.

국제해상충돌예방규칙을 고려한 Event Triggered NMPC 기반의 선박 충돌 회피 알고리즘

About 75% of vessel collision accidents are caused by human error, which causes enormous economic loss, environmental pollution, and human casualties, thus research on automatic collision avoidance of vessels is being actively conducted. In addition, vessels must comply with the COLREGs rules stipulated by IMO when performing collision avoidance with other vessels in motion. In this study, the collision risk was calculated by estimating the position and velocity of other vessels through the Probabilistic Data Association Filter (PDAF) algorithm based on RADAR sensor data. When a collision risk is detected, we propose an event-triggered Nonlinear Model Predict Control (NMPC) algorithm that geometrically creates waypoints that satisfy COLREGs and follows them. To verify the proposed algorithm, simulations through MATLAB are performed.

3D target tracking and shape reconstruction in clutter using Gaussian process and point completion network

AbstractExisting problems for 3D extended target tracking and contour reconstruction under clutter environment are thoroughly investigated in this article. Due to the sparsity of available point cloud data and interference from clutter, the shape completion method, such as Point Completion Network (PCN), cannot reconstruct 3D contour directly. Moreover, the traditional Gaussian process (GP) model suffered from computing overhead and cannot handle irregular non‐convex shapes. Here, a two‐stage tracking algorithm is proposed, which firstly combines the 3D GP measurement model with a probability data association filter to jointly estimate the kinematics and 3D Gaussian basis points, which contain partial shape information. Afterwards, this method input produced Gaussian basis points to a deep learning‐based PCN to reconstruct complete geometry of the contour. The effectiveness of the proposed algorithm is verified by extended target tracking with both simple and complex geometric shapes. The simulation results show that the proposed algorithm obtains accurate kinematic state estimation and produces complete point cloud estimation for 3D contour.

Multiple target data-association algorithm based on Takagi–Sugeno intuitionistic fuzzy model

To solve the problem of data association in multiple target tracking in a densely cluttered environment, a multiple target data association algorithm based on Takagi–Sugeno (T-S) intuitionistic fuzzy model is proposed. In the proposed algorithm, the new multiple target T-S intuitionistic fuzzy model (MTTS-IFM) is constructed by incorporating intuitionistic fuzzy sets and intuitionistic fuzzy numbers. To identify the premise parameters for MTTS-IFM, a new intuitionistic index is defined and a modified form of the intuitionistic fuzzy C-means clustering algorithm is proposed. Furthermore, to solve the multiple target data association for the MTTS-IFM approach, the input variables of MTTS-IFM are defined using the maximum intuitionistic fuzzy entropy, and a data association approach is proposed to deal with the uncertainty between targets and measurements. Finally, simulation results show that the performance of the proposed algorithm is better than that of algorithms designed for multiple target tracking in either a clutter-free or cluttered environment. Moreover, the real-time performance was clearly better than that of the joint probabilistic data association filter (JPDAF) and slightly better than that of maximum entropy fuzzy (MEF-JPDAF), Fitzgerald-JPDAF, and a T-S intuitionistic fuzzy model (TS-FM).

Tracking of ARPA Radar Signals Based on UK–PDAF and Fusion with AIS Data

To maintain the existing systems of ships and introduce autonomous operation technology, it is necessary to improve situational awareness through the sensor fusion of the automatic identification system (AIS) and automatic radar plotting aid (ARPA), which are installed sensors. This study proposes an algorithm for determining whether AIS and ARPA signals are sent to the same ship in real time. To minimize the number of errors caused by the time series and abnormal phenomena of heterogeneous signals, a tracking method based on the combination of the unscented Kalman filter and probabilistic data association filter is performed on ARPA radar signals, and a position prediction method is applied to AIS signals. Especially, the proposed algorithm determines whether the signal is for the same vessel by comparing motion-related components among data of heterogeneous signals to which the corresponding method is applied. Finally, a measurement test is conducted on a training ship. In this process, the proposed algorithm is validated using the AIS and ARPA signal data received by the voyage data recorder for the same ship. In addition, the proposed algorithm is verified by comparing the test results with those obtained from raw data. Therefore, it is recommended to use a sensor fusion algorithm that considers the characteristics of sensors to improve the situational awareness accuracy of existing ship systems.

Multiple targets video tracking based on extended kalman filter in combination with particle swarm optimization for intelligent applications

Multiple targets tracking is a major issue in the intelligent applications. Numerous methods have been presented for the multiple targets tracking to capture the targets trajectory in a video sequence in order to increase intelligence and reduce human error. In this paper, a method is proposed based on combining the Extended Kalman Filter (EKF) and Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) to construct an intermediate tracker and track targets more accurately. The EKF solves targets collision problem, and PSO reduces the covariance of measured noise. Finally, the Joint Probabilistic Data Association (JPDA) filter is used to reduce the number of multiple hypotheses and create a one-to-one correspondence between targets and measurements. To detect targets, frames subtracting along with background modeling and canny edge detector are used. To reduce running time of the proposed method, number of video frames per second (fps) is reduced from 30 to 10 and the sampling rate is also reduced. Despite of this reduction, simulation reults of the proposed method show the multiple targets tracking with 98% accuracy at an acceptable running time compared to the similar methods. In addition, by using the proposed method, the number of assignment states is reduced in the targets tracking process. Overall, the proposed method not only can be used in the intelligent applications, but also in the video compression applications as well.

Multiple User Intent Prediction Using Interacting Multiple Model Joint Probabilistic Data Association Filter

This paper presents a novel method for multi-user motion intent estimation when the motion is observed by a single sensor. A motion model is associated with each of the activities carried out by the operator and the end location of which is termed as a motion intent. Such modeling of intent is useful in human-robot collaborative tasks. The appropriate model selection is achieved via an interacting multiple model (IMM) filter. When the position measurements of multiple users originating from one sensor are close to each other, then the measurement to operator association becomes challenging. A joint probabilistic data association (JPDA) filter is employed to address this issue. The combined IMM and JPDA filter provides a way to infer the motion intent of each operator. Simulation results show that the IMM-JPDA filter tracks two target states reaching toward goal intent in the presence of clutter measurements originating from the Kinect sensor.

Hybrid PDA/FIR Filtering for Indoor Localization Using Wireless Sensor Networks

Indoor localization systems using wireless sensor networks (WSNs) are widely used to track the positions of workers, robots, and equipment. In indoor spaces, the occasional obstruction of radio propagation by physical objects such as furniture, appliances, and humans is referred to as the non-line-of-sight (NLOS) problem and has been a challenge for indoor localization. In this study, a new indoor localization algorithm to overcome the NLOS problem is proposed. We propose a new method to use redundant fixed nodes and nearest neighbor (NN) measurements, which increases the probability of avoiding NLOS-contaminated measurements. In addition, we propose a novel localization algorithm that can handle the contaminated measurements as clutters. The proposed algorithm is based on the hybrid filtering structure in which probabilistic data association (PDA) filter and a finite impulse response (FIR) filter are used as main and assisting filters, respectively. We adopt the extended minimum variance FIR (EMVF) filter as an assisting FIR filter, which recovers the main PDA filter from failures. Thus, the resulting filter is referred to as hybrid PDA/FIR filter (HPFF). Extensive simulations using an indoor localization scenario in a long corridor were performed for evaluation of the proposed localization algorithm. The EKF using NN measurements improves localization accuracy under temporary NLOS conditions, and the PDA filter further enhances the localization accuracy of EKF. However, EKF and PDA filter cannot completely overcome NLOS problem and exhibit significant increase in errors under certain conditions. The HPFF produced localization accuracy with the root time-averaged mean square (RTAMS) position error under 0.4 m and did not fail under NLOS conditions. The accurate and reliable localization performance of HPFF was demonstrated in comparison with the EKF and PDA filter through extensive WSN-based indoor localization simulations.

An Innovative multi-sensor data fusion method based on thrice deeply-fusion architecture for multi-object tracking

For the purpose of track maintenance in a cluttered environment with some false alarms, false dismissals and measurement disturbances, this paper presents a new multi-object tracking procedure with uncertainty of the source of the measurement data returned from multi-sensor. The tracking method is a thrice deeply-fusion approach constructed by a primary fusion based on an improved probabilistic data association filter (IPDAF), a secondary fusion with historical motion trajectories, and a thrice fusion with road-markings. It incorporates the existence probabilities of the individual tracks and the variable number of objects based on the Bayesian estimation theory, which can improve the tracking performances effectively in an environment with high clutter density. A binary 2-D assignment is adopted for the optimal data association, which is established as a nonlinear optimization problem. In the motion modeling, it introduces multiple measurement models for different sensors into the method. Then, the estimation could be performed with greater reliability. The computational efficiency is satisfying and it can be used for real-time application, which is verified by two real test scenarios.

An assessment tool for computer-assisted semen analysis (CASA) algorithms

Computer-Assisted Semen Analysis (CASA) enables reliable analysis of semen images, and is designed to process large number of images with high consistency, accuracy, and repeatability. Design and testing of CASA algorithms can be accelerated greatly if reliable simulations of semen images under a variety of conditions and sample quality modes are available. Using life-like simulation of semen images can quantify the performance of existing and proposed CASA algorithms, since the parameters of the simulated image are known and controllable. We present simulation models for sperm cell image and swimming modes observed in real 2D (top-down) images of sperm cells in laboratory specimen. The models simulate human sperm using four (4) types of swimming, namely linear mean, circular, hyperactive, and immotile (or dead). The simulation models are used in studying algorithms for segmentation, localization, and tracking of sperm cells. Several segmentation and localization algorithms were tested under varying levels of noise, and then compared using precision, recall, and the optimal subpattern assignment (OSPA) metric. Images of real human semen sample were used to validate the segmentation and localization observations obtained from simulations. An example is given of sperm cell tracking on simulated semen images of cells using the different tracking algorithms (nearest neighbor (NN), global nearest neighbor (GNN), probabilistic data association filter (PDAF), and joint probabilistic data association filter (JPDAF)). Tracking performance was evaluated through multi-object tracking precision (MOTP) and multi-object tracking accuracy (MOTA). Simulation models enable objective assessments of semen image processing algorithms. We demonstrate the use of a new simulation tool to assess and compare segmentation, localization, and tracking methods. The simulation software allows testing along a large spectrum of parameter values that control the appearance and behavior of simulated semen images. Users can generate scenarios of different characteristics and assess the effectiveness of different CASA algorithms in these environments. The simulation was used to assess and compare algorithms for segmentation and tracking of sperm cells in semen images.

Evolutionary Optimization Based Set Joint Integrated Probabilistic Data Association Filter

The joint integrated probabilistic data association (JIPDA) algorithm is widely used for the automatic tracking of multiple targets, but it has the well-known problem of track coalescence. By optimizing the posterior density, the accuracy of the target state estimation can be improved. Motivated by this idea, we developed a novel evolutionary optimization based joint integrated probabilistic data association (EOJIPDA) filter to overcome the coalescence problem of the JIPDA filter. The trace for the covariance matrix of the posterior density is used as the objective function for the above optimization problem. It is shown that the accuracy of the target state estimation can be improved by reducing the trace. Evolutionary optimization was employed to minimize the trace and optimize the posterior density. More specifically, we enumerated all the possible permutations of the targets and assign a unique index to each permutation. The resulting indices were randomly assigned to all possible association hypothesis events. Each assignment indicated one possible gene in the evolutionary algorithm. This process was repeated several times to arrive at the initial population. An illustrative example shows that the EOJIPDA filter can effectively improve the accuracy of state estimation. Numerical studies are presented for two challenging multi-target tracking scenarios with clutter and missed detections. The experimental results demonstrate that the EOJIPDA filter provides better tracking accuracy than traditional coalescence-avoiding methods.

Target Localization Based on High Resolution Mode of MIMO Radar with Widely Separated Antennas

Coherent processing of multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) radar with widely separated antennas has high resolution capability, but it also brings ambiguity in target localization. In view of the ambiguity problem, different from other signal processing sub-directions such as array configuration optimization or continuity of phase in space/time, this paper analyzes it from the information level, that is, the tracking method is adopted. First, by using the state equation and measurement equation, the echo data of multiple coherent processing intervals (CPI) are collected to improve the target localization accuracy as much as possible. Second, the non-coherent joint probability data association filter (JPDAF) is used to achieve stable tracking of spatial cross targets without ambiguity measurements. Third, based on the tracking results of the non-coherent JPDAF, the ambiguity of coherent measurement is resolved, that is, the coherent JPDAF is realized. By means of non-coherent and coherent alternating JPDAF (NCCAF) algorithms, high accuracy localization of multiple targets is achieved. Finally, numerical simulations are carried out to validate the effectiveness of the proposed NCCAF algorithm.

Distributed Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Positioning for Multitarget Tracking with Bearing-Only Information

This paper proposes a distributed positioning algorithm for a swarm of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) to track multiple moving targets with bearing-only measurements. An approximate performance metric is first derived that can be used in position determination based on the properties of multisensor joint probabilistic data association (JPDA) filter. A fully distributed position planning algorithm using incremental optimization strategy is then proposed for tracking multiple moving targets. Simulation examples with comparison results validate the effectiveness of the proposed algorithm.

Maneuvering Multitargets Tracking System Using Surveillance Multisensors

Multisensors multitargets tracking is an important task, and the difficulty is how to form the real trajectory of each target accurately. In this article, we construct a complete system for tracking highly maneuvering multitargets in the case of multisensors asynchronous sampling. Our system divides the entire tracking task into three modules: space–time calibration, point-trajectory data association, and trajectory data fusion. An improved least-squares (LS) virtual fusion method is proposed to correct the asynchronous sampling time, and the fast vector calibrates the multisensors’ spatial state. In the point-trajectory data association module, an adaptive K-nearest neighbors (AK-NN) algorithm is proposed, which employs the adaptive threshold forming multiple trajectories. In trajectory data fusion, a CV+CT+S multimotion model is proposed with the multisensors’ probabilistic data association filter (PDAF) algorithm to track highly maneuvering multitargets actively. The results show that our system performs accurately for moving maneuvering multitargets tracking in complex situations.

A Robust VideoSAR Single Target Tracker by Integrating Correlation Filter and IMM-PDAF

Video synthetic aperture radar (VideoSAR) provides the potential of high-resolution target images with also high frame rate. Different from the target signal in VideoSAR, target shadow straightforwardly indicates its location and track without suffering from the Doppler shift and smearing induced by the motion modulation. The target shadow can be exploited to realize the real-time tracking of the moving target with VideoSAR. In this letter, we propose a robust single target shadow tracker, which integrates the discriminative correlation filter(DCF) and interacting multiple model probabilistic data association filter(IMM-PDAF) to simultaneously overcome the interference of around clutter and target maneuvers. Considering the dependence between target shadow appearance and its dynamic motion, a filtering template updating strategy based on the estimated mode probability was proposed. VideoSAR tracking experiment shows that the proposed algorithm outperforms conventional visual tracking techniques in the robustness aspects.

Prediction of future paths of mobile objects using path library

Abstract In situational awareness, the ability to make predictions about the near future situation in the area under surveillance is often as essential as being aware of the current situation. We introduce a privacy-preserving instance-based prediction method, where a path library is collected by learning earlier paths of mobile objects in the area of surveillance. The input to the prediction is the most recent coordinates of the objects in the scene. Based on similarity to short segments of currently tracked paths, a relative weight is associated with each path in the library. Future paths are predicted by computing the weighted average of the library paths. We demonstrate the operation of a situational awareness system where privacy-preserving data are extracted from an inexpensive computer vision which consists of a camera-equipped Raspberry PI-based edge device. The system runs a deep neural network-based object detection algorithm on the camera feed and stores the coordinates, object class labels, and timestamps of the detected objects. We used probabilistic reasoning based on joint probabilistic data association, Hungarian algorithm, and Kalman filter to infer which detections from different time instances came from the same object.