Observability analysis for target maneuver estimation via bearing-only and bearing-rate-only measurements
STEPHAN HEPNER, Hans Peter Geering · Journal of Guidance Control and Dynamics · 1990
The implementation of modern guidance laws requires the design of tracking filters that provide information about the target maneuver. Because of the nonlinearity of the tracking problem, the stability of extended Kalman filters in tracking applications involving bearing-( rate-) only observations is highly dependent on the intercept geometry. This is due mainly to the lack of observability in the absence of range measurements. In this paper, the observability of target maneuvers via bearing-( rate-) only measurements is discussed. Intercept scenarios that result in the loss of observability are identified. They play an important role for both the initialization of tracking filters and the design of missile guidance laws based on bearing-( rate-) only measurements.