Sensor management in an ASW data fusion system
Dawn E. Penny · Proceedings of SPIE, the International Society for Optical Engineering/Proceedings of SPIE · 1999
The Multi-Sensor Fusion Management (MSFM) algorithm positions multiple, detection-only, passive sensors in a 2D plane to optimize the fused probability of detection using a simple decision fusion method. Previously the MSFM algorithm was evaluated on two synthetic problem domains comprising of both static and moving targets. In the original formulation the probability distribution of the target location was modelled using a non-parametric approach. The logarithm of the fused detection probability was used as a criterion function for the optimisation of the sensor positions. This optimisation used a straightforward gradient ascent approach, which occasionally found local optima. Following the placement optimisation the sensors were deployed and the individual sensor detections combined using a logical OR fusion rule. The target location distribution could then be updated using the method of sampling, importance re-sampling (SIR). In the current work the algorithm is extended to admit a richer variety of behaviour. More realistic sensor characteristic models are used which include detection-plus-bearing sensors and false alarm probabilities commensurate with actual sonar sensor systems. In this paper the performance of the updated MSFM algorithm is illustrated on a realistic anti-submarine warfare (ASW) application in which the placement of the sensors is carried out incrementally, allowing for the optimisation of both the location and the number of sensors to be deployed.