Application of the Extended Kalman Filter to Ballistic Trajectory Estimation and Prediction
Abstract
The thesis presents the results of a study wherein the Kalman filtering technique is applied to the estimation and prediction of the trajectory of a ballistic missile from radar measurements made from an airborne radar system. Any intercept system which is to guide an anti-missile is critically dependent on these computational functions. In the paper the Kalman estimator is extended to nonlinear trajectory equation and unknown ballistic parameters. An estimation and prediction model is developed assuming that azimuth, elevation, range and range-rate data is provided from a phased-array radar aboard an aircraft. In order to evaluate the model, a digital computer program was developed wherein a reference trajectory for a missile is generated and this information, along with tracker aircraft position, is used by a radar model to generated airborne tracking information which is contaminated with noise. From this information the Kalman estimation and prediction model yields estimates of the present states and future states of the target. These are compared with the reference trajectory to evaluate the model.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jun 01, 1969
- Accession Number
- AD0875083
Entities
People
- Donald K. Potter
- Joseph C. Orwat
Organizations
- Air Force Institute of Technology