C2 Information Management: Data Fusion and Track ID's in a Multiple Sensor Environment

Abstract

Battle management decision making requires a composite picture, of the environment, including identification of moving and stationary 'targets' . The current state of technology allows large volumes of data to be gathered from multiple sources. Target kinematics and identity features must be derived through fusion of the data. Initial assignment and maintenance of track numbers, the identifying labels, may lead to ambiguity in command and control information management. The problem is discussed in terms of data fusion in a multiple sensor environment, giving particular emphasis to managing track ID numbers in representative architectures. An overview of data fusion provides a framework for the problem of track ID's. A Centralized Architecture, Distributed Architecture, and two Hybrid Architectures are developed focusing on design tradeoffs. System evaluation using the Analytic Hierarchy Process furnishes the reader an illustration of a process which might be used to select an optimal architecture. This research does not attempt to propose a specific design, but identifies several key criteria which must be evaluated and suggests a framework for comparative analysis.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Mar 01, 1992
Accession Number
ADA249236

Entities

People

  • Timothy A. Foster

Organizations

  • Naval Postgraduate School

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • C4I
  • Materials and Manufacturing Processes
  • Sensors
  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Aerial Warfare
  • Airborne Warning And Control System
  • Classification
  • Command And Control
  • Control Systems
  • Data Fusion
  • Detection
  • Detectors
  • Identification
  • Information Exchange
  • Information Processing
  • Information Systems
  • Military Organizations
  • Navy
  • Organizational Structure
  • Processing Equipment
  • Security

Readers

  • Sensor Fusion and Tracking Systems.
  • Software Engineering.
  • Theoretical Analysis.

Technology Areas

  • Fully Networked C3
  • Fully Networked C3 - Command and Control