The current trend to develop low cost, miniature unattended ground sensors will enable a cost-effective, covert means for surveillance in both urban and remote border areas. Whereas the functionality (e.g., sensing range and life in the field) of smaller UGS may be limited due to size and cost constraints, a network of these sensors working cooperatively together can provide an effective surveillance capability. A key factor is the ability of these sensors to work cooperatively to achieve a `collective' functionality that can meet the surveillance objective.
The current trend to develop low cost, miniature unattended ground sensors will enable a cost-effective, covert means for surveillance in both urban and remote border areas. Whereas the functionality (e.g., sensing range and life in the field) of these smaller UGS (i.e., acoustic, seismic, magnetic, chemical or biological) may be limited due to size and cost constraints, a network of these sensors working cooperatively together can provide an effective surveillance capability. A key factor is the ability of these sensors to work cooperatively to achieve a `collective' functionality that can meet the surveillance objective. This paper describes results of using target identification (ID) features (i.e., the ID feature space of the target) to improve the tracking of closely spaced targets (i.e., the kinematic space of the targets). A Multiple Level Identification (MLID) approach was used to determine and maintain confidences for multiple target identifications for each target. These confidences were incorporated into the processing of kinematic data (i.e., target bearing reports) to improve the tracker's estimated position of the target's location. Results describing the effectiveness of using MLID on target tracking performance are reported using simulated target trajectory and ID data.
The current trend to develop low cost, miniature unattended ground sensor (UGS) will enable a cost-effective, covert means for surveillance in both urban and remote border areas. Whereas the functionality (e.g., sensing range and life in the field) of these individual UGS (i.e., acoustic, seismic, magnetic, chemical or biological) are limited due to size and cost constraints, a network of these sensors working cooperatively together can provide an effective surveillance capability. A key factor is the ability of these sensors to work cooperatively to achieve a `collective' functionality that can meet the surveillance objective. For example, a realistic mission objective would be to use the minimum number of sensors necessary (i.e., preserve the life of the network) to detect, identify and track vehicles in a desert canyon area that has variable wind and temperature conditions. The network would have to assess the effect of the wind direction and temperature on the sensing range of its acoustic sensors, turn on those sensors that can initially detect the target and dynamically activate other appropriate sensors (e.g., seismic, acoustic or imaging sensors) that can identify and track the vehicle as it moves into and across the canyon area covered by the sensor network. To achieve this type of functionality requires system algorithms that are capable of optimizing the utilization of the sensors. This paper describes results that show improved target tracking accuracy by optimizing the selection of acoustic sensors that measure bearing angles to the target. Also, recent results are described from testing the tracking algorithm with real data.
The capabilities of unattended ground sensors (UGSs) have steadily improved and have been shown to be of value in various military missions. Today's UGS are multi-functional, integrated sensor platforms that can detect and locate a wide variety of ground-based and airborne targets. The rather large size (> 1 cubic foot) and relatively expensive cost of these integrated platforms are two main drawbacks for remote surveillance applications that support rapidly deployable, small unit operations. As an alternative, remote surveillance may be possible with smaller, less costly sensors that work cooperatively together as a network. The objective of this study was to develop algorithms that can optimally organized and adaptively control a network of UGSs in order to achieve a surveillance mission. In the present study, the sensor network, a random distribution of acoustic sensors over a surveillance area, is tasked to detect and track any targets entering into the surveillance area. In addition, the sensor network is required to maximize its tracking accuracy and minimize its power utilization.
The capabilities of unattended ground sensors (UBSs) have steadily improved and have been shown to be of value in various military missions. Today's UGS are multifunctional, integrated sensor platforms that can detect and locate a wide variety of ground-based and airborne targets. Due primarily to cost and size constraints of these UGS, they have not been widely used for law enforcement surveillance applications. As an alternative to a single, monolithic sensor platform, remote surveillance may be possible with smaller, less obtrusive sensors that work cooperatively together as a network. The objective of this study was to develop algorithms that can optimally organize and adaptively control a network of UGSs in order to achieve a surveillance mission. In the present study, the sensor network, a random distribution of sensors over a surveillance area (emulates airborne sensor deployment), determines an optimal combination of its sensors that will detect multiple targets and consume the lease amount of power. This problem is considered a multiobjective optimization problem to which there is no unique solution. Furthermore, for a linearly increasing number of sensors, the combinatorial search space increases exponentially. To reduce the search space, a novel clustering method was developed based on whether the sensor can sense the target rather than on similarities between the sensors. A genetic algorithm (GA) was used to obtain a quasioptimal solution for the sensor combination problem. To evaluate the effectiveness of the optimization, figures of merit were developed that are applicable to a sensor network tasked with a surveillance problem. Software-simulated data was used to test software implementation of the clustering, optimization and figure of merit functions. The clustering method reduced the search space by an average of ten orders of magnitude. For a sensor population of 100 sensors that was tasked to detect 24 targets, the GA was able to select optimal sets of sensors for detection and minimization of power consumption. The results demonstrate the feasibility of optimally configuring and controlling a network of sensors for remote surveillance applications.
Access to the requested content is limited to institutions that have purchased or subscribe to SPIE eBooks.
You are receiving this notice because your organization may not have SPIE eBooks access.*
*Shibboleth/Open Athens users─please
sign in
to access your institution's subscriptions.
To obtain this item, you may purchase the complete book in print or electronic format on
SPIE.org.
INSTITUTIONAL Select your institution to access the SPIE Digital Library.
PERSONAL Sign in with your SPIE account to access your personal subscriptions or to use specific features such as save to my library, sign up for alerts, save searches, etc.