Maximum Likelihood Estimator for Bearings-only Passive Target Tracking in Electronic Surveillance Measure and Electronic Warfare Systems

S. Koteswara Rao

doi:10.14429/dsj.60.340

S. Koteswara Rao Naval Science and Technology Laboratory, Vizag

DOI: https://doi.org/10.14429/dsj.60.340

Keywords: Maximum likelihood estimator, pasive target tracking, target tracking, ESM system, EW system.

Abstract

Maximum likelihood estimator is a suitable algorithm for passive target tracking applications. Nardone, Lindgren and Gong introduced this approach using batch processing. In this paper, the batch processing is converted into sequential processing for real-time applications like passive target tracking using bearings-only measurements. Adaptively, the variance of each measurement is computed and is used along with the measurement in such a way that the effect of false bearings can be reduced. The transmissions made by radar on a target ship are assumed to be intercepted by an electronic warfare (EW) system of own ship. The generated bearings in intercept mode are processed through maximum likelihood estimator (MLE) to find out target motion parameters. Instead of assuming some arbitrary values, pseudo linear estimator outputs are used for the initialisation of MLE. The algorithm is tested in Monte-Carlo simulation and its results are presented for two typical scenarios.

Defence Science Journal, 2010, 60(2), pp.197-203, DOI:http://dx.doi.org/10.14429/dsj.60.340

Author Biography

S. Koteswara Rao, Naval Science and Technology Laboratory, Vizag

Presently, he is working as Scientist G at Naval Science and Technology Laboratory, Vizag. His areas of work are development of fire control systems for ship, submarines, and torpedoes. He has published several papers in IEEE/IEE International Conferences and journals in the field of signal processing.