Kalman Filter Tracking of a Reflective Target Using Forward Looking Infrared Measurements and Laser Illumination
Abstract
This thesis investigates Kalman filter tracking of a missile hardbody, at a range of 2,000 kilometers, using forward looking infrared (FLIR) measurements and low-energy laser illumination of the missile hardbody. A missile reflectivity model provides realism in the simulation. The tracking scenario uses one filter, provided with FLIR measurements, to estimate the intensity centroid location of the missile's plume. A second, independent, filter estimates the center-of-mass of the missile hardbody. The center-of-mass measurements provided to this filter are computed from information gathered by scanning a low-energy laser along the first filter's estimate of the missile velocity vector. Single scans of the laser produce 20 percent reflection returns, while a sweep (multiple scans) provides a measurement at each sample time. The need for a laser sweep results from inaccurate filter pointing of the FLIR sensor. A comparison between a one-state and two-state filter in estimating the hardbody center-of-mass shows that a one-state estimator performs as well as a two-state filter, with almost no error. The principle error in estimating the missile center-of-mass is along the centerline of the missile, for which the one-state filter is tuned. (Author)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Dec 01, 1990
- Accession Number
- ADA231196
Entities
People
- Roger J. Evans
Organizations
- Air Force Institute of Technology