Unified Control-Theoretic Multi-Raid Sensor Management Algorithms

Detecting, localizing, identifying, tracking, and intercepting multiple and dispersed missiles aimed at multiple and dispersed defended areas, presents a daunting theoretical and practical challenge. The Scientific Systems Company, Inc. team proposes a foundational, information-theoretic and controltheoretic approach. It is based on mathematically modeling a multiplatform-multisensor-multitarget system as SINGLE, JOINTLY EVOLVING STOCHASTIC PROCESS. All relevant information regarding behaviors of all sensors, all platforms, and all targets are inherently integrated into the algorithm design at the outset. As a consequence, all major functionsdata fusion, search, detection, localization, identification, tracking, sensor management, and weapons assignment, are inherently integrated into a single, unified system. Our approach is based on the following innovations: (1) multisensor-multitarget likelihood functions that incorporate all relevant information about sensors; (2) dynamic"tactical importance functions"that mathematically specify the meaning of Target of Interest; (3) intuitively meaningful and statistically based sensor management objective functions; 4) Markov transition densities that contain all relevant information about target and sensor dynamics; and (5) integration of these concepts with approximate multitarget filters. Because it is information-theoretic, our approach selects multisensor dwells, versus short dwells, versus frequent revisits, versus sustained dwells, depending on which will optimize total information. It is also"myopic"rather than"farsighted,"since mismatch between motion-prediction models and actual multitarget motion tends to make the latter approach insensitive to rapid change. The project team includes Dr. Ronald Mahler of Lockheed Martin. Lockheed Martin will provide both technical and commercialization support in the application of the advanced Sensor Management Algorithms.