Intelligent Sensor Registration and Data Association

ABSTRACT: Impact Technologies proposes to develop and demonstrate dynamic sensor registration and data association algorithms implemented within an intelligent-agent framework that will increase the robustness of multi-INT information for the USAF. The project team plans to achieve this goal by building on our recently developed intelligent-software-agent technology and state-of-the-art information fusion techniques. The proposed sensor registration algorithms will utilize a unified framework for joint sensor registration and data association, automatically taking Out-of-Sequence-Measurements into account. In addition, the proposed system will be built on an Open System Architecture using standard protocols while the software implementation and integration will follow a well-established system engineering approach. Utilizing methods such as the Multi-Scan, Markov Chain Monte Carlo Data Association algorithm, we will be able to focus on the problem of densely-packed target tracking, just as an example. Once an accurate sensor registration service has been implemented, the USAF will be able to utilize the alignment of sensors to provide a consistent global picture of the surveillance area for improved situational awareness, thus enhancing risk and vulnerability assessment and enabling optimization of operations and resource allocation. The performance and survivability of the fleet will therefore be significantly enhanced. BENEFIT: The resulting product will provide a valuable surveillance data fusion capability for private defense industry and other private sector companies with applications involving distributed sensors with diverse detection characteristics and training. This capability will be an enabling technology in valuable products for private industry to sell to other organizations dealing with human perception, human decision-making, and improved data fusion. Breakthrough technologies intended to improve the practicality and reliability of data fusion systems for large distributed sensor networks will benefit air traffic control, surveillance and reconnaissance, search and rescue operations, border patrol and law enforcement operations, and distributed fault diagnostics, among many others.