Probability hypothesis density filter with adaptive parameter estimation for tracking multiple maneuvering targets

AbstractThe probability hypothesis density (PHD) filter has been recognized as a promising technique for tracking an unknown number of targets. The performance of the PHD filter, however, is sensitive to the available knowledge on model parameters such as the measurement noise variance and those associated with the changes in the maneuvering target trajectories. If these parameters are unknown in advance, the tracking performance may degrade greatly. To address this aspect, this paper proposes to incorporate the adaptive parameter estimation (APE) method in the PHD filter so that the model parameters, which may be static and/or time-varying, can be estimated jointly with target states. The resulting APE-PHD algorithm is implemented using the particle filter (PF), which leads to the PF-APE-PHD filter. Simulations show that the newly proposed algorithm can correctly identify the unknown measurement noise variances, and it is capable of tracking multiple maneuvering targets with abrupt changing parameters in a more robust manner, compared to the multi-model approaches

A Gaussian Integral Filter with Multivariate Laplace Process Noise

This paper introduces the concept of the Gaussian integral filter (GIF), the limit of the Gaussian sum filter (GSF) for when the number of mixands tends to infinity. The GIF is obtained via a combination of GSF, quadrature, and interpolation. While it is a very general concept, in this paper the GIF is used to represent multiviariate Laplace (ML) distributions defining the process noise when tracking a maneuvering target. The filter is first applied to a linear three-dimensional toy problem, and then to a maneuvering target tracking problem in Earth orbit. For the more complex maneuvering target tracking problem, the filter requires only 1.4 times the computational resources of an unscented Kalman filter (UKF), while having errors up to 11 times smaller. For the same problem, the UKF slowly diverges.Comment: IEEE International Conference on Information Fusion, Charleston, SC, U.S.A., June 27-30, 202

Game theoretic data association for multi-target tracking with varying number of targets

We investigate a game theoretic data association technique for multi-target tracking (MTT) with varying number of targets. The problem of target state-estimate-to-track data association has been considered. We use the SMC-PHD filter to handle the MTT aspect and obtain target state estimates. We model the interaction between target tracks as a game by considering them as players and the set of target state estimates as strategies. Utility functions for the players are defined and a regret-based learning algorithm with a forgetting factor is used to find the equilibrium of the game. Simulation results are presented to demonstrate the performance of the proposed technique

Advanced signal processing techniques for multi-target tracking

The multi-target tracking problem essentially involves the recursive joint estimation of the state of unknown and time-varying number of targets present in a tracking scene, given a series of observations. This problem becomes more challenging because the sequence of observations is noisy and can become corrupted due to miss-detections and false alarms/clutter. Additionally, the detected observations are indistinguishable from clutter. Furthermore, whether the target(s) of interest are point or extended (in terms of spatial extent) poses even more technical challenges. An approach known as random finite sets provides an elegant and rigorous framework for the handling of the multi-target tracking problem. With a random finite sets formulation, both the multi-target states and multi-target observations are modelled as finite set valued random variables, that is, random variables which are random in both the number of elements and the values of the elements themselves. Furthermore, compared to other approaches, the random finite sets approach possesses a desirable characteristic of being free of explicit data association prior to tracking. In addition, a framework is available for dealing with random finite sets and is known as finite sets statistics. In this thesis, advanced signal processing techniques are employed to provide enhancements to and develop new random finite sets based multi-target tracking algorithms for the tracking of both point and extended targets with the aim to improve tracking performance in cluttered environments. To this end, firstly, a new and efficient Kalman-gain aided sequential Monte Carlo probability hypothesis density (KG-SMC-PHD) filter and a cardinalised particle probability hypothesis density (KG-SMC-CPHD) filter are proposed. These filters employ the Kalman- gain approach during weight update to correct predicted particle states by minimising the mean square error between the estimated measurement and the actual measurement received at a given time in order to arrive at a more accurate posterior. This technique identifies and selects those particles belonging to a particular target from a given PHD for state correction during weight computation. The proposed SMC-CPHD filter provides a better estimate of the number of targets. Besides the improved tracking accuracy, fewer particles are required in the proposed approach. Simulation results confirm the improved tracking performance when evaluated with different measures. Secondly, the KG-SMC-(C)PHD filters are particle filter (PF) based and as with PFs, they require a process known as resampling to avoid the problem of degeneracy. This thesis proposes a new resampling scheme to address a problem with the systematic resampling method which causes a high tendency of resampling very low weight particles especially when a large number of resampled particles are required; which in turn affect state estimation. Thirdly, the KG-SMC-(C)PHD filters proposed in this thesis perform filtering and not tracking , that is, they provide only point estimates of target states but do not provide connected estimates of target trajectories from one time step to the next. A new post processing step using game theory as a solution to this filtering - tracking problem is proposed. This approach was named the GTDA method. This method was employed in the KG-SMC-(C)PHD filter as a post processing technique and was evaluated using both simulated and real data obtained using the NI-USRP software defined radio platform in a passive bi-static radar system. Lastly, a new technique for the joint tracking and labelling of multiple extended targets is proposed. To achieve multiple extended target tracking using this technique, models for the target measurement rate, kinematic component and target extension are defined and jointly propagated in time under the generalised labelled multi-Bernoulli (GLMB) filter framework. The GLMB filter is a random finite sets-based filter. In particular, a Poisson mixture variational Bayesian (PMVB) model is developed to simultaneously estimate the measurement rate of multiple extended targets and extended target extension was modelled using B-splines. The proposed method was evaluated with various performance metrics in order to demonstrate its effectiveness in tracking multiple extended targets

Bayesian multiple extended target tracking using labelled random finite sets and splines

In this paper, we propose a technique for the joint tracking and labelling of multiple extended targets. To achieve multiple extended target tracking using this technique, models for the target measurement rate, kinematic component and target extension are defined and jointly propagated in time under the generalised labelled multi-Bernoulli (GLMB) filter framework. In particular, we developed a Poisson mixture variational Bayesian (PMVB) model to simultaneously estimate the measurement rate of multiple extended targets and extended target extension was modelled using B-splines. We evaluated our proposed method with various performance metrics. Results demonstrate the effectiveness of our approach

Tracking of Spline Modeled Extended Objects Using Random Finite Sets

In the field of autonomously driving vehicles the environment perception containing dynamic objects like other road users is essential. Especially, detecting other vehicles in the road traffic using sensor data is of utmost importance. As the sensor data and the applied system model for the objects of interest are noise corrupted, a filter algorithm must be used to track moving objects. Using LIDAR sensors one object gives rise to more than one measurement per time step and is therefore called extended object. This allows to jointly estimate the objects, position, as well as its orientation, extension and shape. Estimating an arbitrary shaped object comes with a higher computational effort than estimating the shape of an object that can be approximated using a basic geometrical shape like an ellipse or a rectangle. In the case of a vehicle, assuming a rectangular shape is an accurate assumption. A recently developed approach models the contour of a vehicle as periodic B-spline function. This representation is an easy to use tool, as the contour can be specified by some basis points in Cartesian coordinates. Also rotating, scaling and moving the contour is easy to handle using a spline contour. This contour model can be used to develop a measurement model for extended objects, that can be integrated into a tracking filter. Another approach modeling the shape of a vehicle is the so-called bounding box that represents the shape as rectangle. In this thesis the basics of single, multi and extended object tracking, as well as the basics of B-spline functions are addressed. Afterwards, the spline measurement model is established in detail and integrated into an extended Kalman filter to track a single extended object. An implementation of the resulting algorithm is compared with the rectangular shape estimator. The implementation of the rectangular shape estimator is provided. The comparison is done using long-term considerations with Monte Carlo simulations and by analyzing the results of a single run. Therefore, both algorithms are applied to the same measurements. The measurements are generated using an artificial LIDAR sensor in a simulation environment. In a real-world tracking scenario detecting several extended objects and measurements that do not originate from a real object, named clutter measurements, is possible. Also, the sudden appearance and disappearance of an object is possible. A filter framework investigated in recent years that can handle tracking multiple objects in a cluttered environment is a random finite set based approach. The idea of random finite sets and its use in a tracking filter is recapped in this thesis. Afterwards, the spline measurement model is included in a multi extended object tracking framework. An implementation of the resulting filter is investigated in a long-term consideration using Monte Carlo simulations and by analyzing the results of a single run. The multi extended object filter is also applied to artificial LIDAR measurements generated in a simulation environment. The results of comparing the spline based and rectangular based extended object trackers show a more stable performance of the spline extended object tracker. Also, some problems that have to be addressed in future works are discussed. The investigation of the resulting multi extended object tracker shows a successful integration of the spline measurement model in a multi extended object tracker. Also, with these results some problems remain, that have to be solved in future works

Dynamic Switching State Systems for Visual Tracking

This work addresses the problem of how to capture the dynamics of maneuvering objects for visual tracking. Towards this end, the perspective of recursive Bayesian filters and the perspective of deep learning approaches for state estimation are considered and their functional viewpoints are brought together

Dynamic Switching State Systems for Visual Tracking

This work addresses the problem of how to capture the dynamics of maneuvering objects for visual tracking. Towards this end, the perspective of recursive Bayesian filters and the perspective of deep learning approaches for state estimation are considered and their functional viewpoints are brought together

Human Motion Trajectory Prediction: A Survey

With growing numbers of intelligent autonomous systems in human environments, the ability of such systems to perceive, understand and anticipate human behavior becomes increasingly important. Specifically, predicting future positions of dynamic agents and planning considering such predictions are key tasks for self-driving vehicles, service robots and advanced surveillance systems. This paper provides a survey of human motion trajectory prediction. We review, analyze and structure a large selection of work from different communities and propose a taxonomy that categorizes existing methods based on the motion modeling approach and level of contextual information used. We provide an overview of the existing datasets and performance metrics. We discuss limitations of the state of the art and outline directions for further research.Comment: Submitted to the International Journal of Robotics Research (IJRR), 37 page

Dynamic Switching State Systems for Visual Tracking

This work addresses the problem of how to capture the dynamics of maneuvering objects for visual tracking. Towards this end, the perspective of recursive Bayesian filters and the perspective of deep learning approaches for state estimation are considered and their functional viewpoints are brought together