Behavior of Alpha-Beta Tracker for Maneuvering Targets under Noise, False Target, and Fade Conditions

Abstract

The behavior of the alpha-beta tracker or filter which is found in track-while-scan radars was investigated under various situations. First the target's motion was translated into signals which excite the filter. It was found that these signals could be characterized in terms of target performance capabilities such as velocity, acceleration, and structural loading. Neglecting false alarms and fades, the probability of breaking track was found to depend on the scan time, the measurement noise, the target trajectory, and the parameters alpha and beta. The tracking errors could be categorized into variances and mean errors which were investigated more fully. Using a postulated strategy, the effects of false alarms and fades were found on the variances and mean errors.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Aug 17, 1972
Accession Number
AD0748993

Entities

People

  • Ben H. Cantrell

Organizations

  • United States Naval Research Laboratory

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Energy and Power Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Altitude
  • Detection
  • Equations
  • Error Analysis
  • Errors
  • False Alarms
  • False Targets
  • Filters
  • Frequency
  • Frequency Response
  • Measurement
  • Multiple Targets
  • Probability
  • Radar
  • Radial Velocity
  • Random Variables
  • Steady State

Readers

  • Atmospheric Science / Meteorology, specifically Wind Wave Turbulence.
  • Radio communications and signal processing.
  • Sensor Fusion and Tracking Systems.