Manoeuvring-target tracking with the Viterbi algorithm in the presence of interference

Abstract

The Viterbi algorithm is used to track a target in the presence of random interference, such as jamming. A nonlinear target motion and an observation which is modelled in a spherical coordinate system are considered. The observation model is a nonlinear function of interference. The components of the state vector are the range, bearing angle, and elevation angle of the target location. The state vector is estimated, component-by-component, by a parallel use of the Viterbi algorithm in blocks. Simulation results, some of which are presented, have shown that the proposed estimation scheme performs well, whereas classical estimation schemes, such as the extended Kalman filter, cannot, in general, handle target tracking in the presence of random interference.