On the observability of target maneuvers via bearing-only and bearing-rate-only measurements
STEPHAN HEPNER, Hans Peter Geering · Guidance, Navigation and Control Conference · 1987
The implementation of modem guidance laws requires the design of tracking filters that provide information about the target maneuver. Due to 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 to the lack of observability in the absence of range measurements. In this paper the observability of target maneuvers via bearing (rate)- measurements is discussed. Intercept scenarios that result in loss of observability are identified. The concept of time scale separation is used to gain further insight into the tracking problem.