Sensor Resolution Models and Multidimensional Data Association

The multidimensional data association methods were developed to establish the relation between plots and tracks especially in dense target situations. However, even these advanced multidimensional data association methods lack in situations of unresolved measurement. Specifically, in real dense target situations being of most interest the phenomena of unresolvedplots happens quite often due to the limited sensor resolution. The data association describes the correlation between tracks representing targets and plots. There are several hypotheses about the origin of a new sensor plot: It may be unreal and has to be ignored (false alarm). Otherwise, it is assumed to be real and then one has to discriminate between plots related to tracks supported by previous plots (update) and those, which are not (new track). Finally, an existing track may be not reported due to a miss (no detection). To handel also unresolved plot hypotheses a sensor resolution model is necessary which has to be integrated into the multidimensional data association framework.