Advanced Sensor Data Fusion

Technology Service Corporation (TSC) and the University of Connecticut (UCONN) will develop a birth-to-death tracking concept that utilizes rotational information to improve track handover between: 1) forward-based radars, 2) mid-course ballistic missile defense tracking radars, and 3) the IR sensor on the kill vehicle. The proliferation of anti-simulation countermeasures has necessitated a multi-stage discrimination strategy that requires accurate handover to accumulate target ID information. TSC has demonstrated innovative 3D radar imaging and static RCS pattern reconstruction techniques that allow both size and rotational information to be extracted and exploited by a multi-target tracking algorithm. UCONN is a world leader in developing tracking algorithms that can take advantage of such additional features to improve track association and track handover accuracy. Radar to IR sensor handover presents even greater challenges due to differences in sensor phenomenology. TSC has expertise in modeling both RCS and IR signatures of complex targets. In Phase I, TSC will explore our target discrimination concept using simulated sensor measurements, and UCONN will provide and extend baseline tracking algorithms. For algorithm testing, TSC will define a scenario with forward and sea-based X-band radars, as well as IR sensors. In Phase 2, TSC will refine and customize the algorithms for application to the US ballistic missile defense system.