Track-to-track association using a phase-only filter

摘要

An alternative approach to data association is analyzed. The technique, based on an automatic target recognition scheme, uses an image correlation scheme that relies on the phase-only filter. The phase-only filter can compare track-level data (or tagged data) over multiple scans simultaneously. The approach can also combine kinematic and attribute data to be scored simultaneously. The technique requires that the track information be mapped into an image representation, referred to as a tile. The generation of the tile can be based on an amplitude representation of the target-track variations. Alternatively, phase variations, rather than amplitude could be used to generate the tile. These tiles can represent multiple track attributes over multiple reports. The capabilities of the phase-only filter correlation technique are compared to the chi-squared metric standard.