Analytical estimation of performance of a sensor system

• US 20040243344A1
• Filed: 06/24/2004
• Published: 12/02/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 08/06/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Original Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Inventors: Kronhamn, Thomas, Andersson, Ake
• Granted Patent: US 7,167,810 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 702/182
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/726 Multiple target tracking
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/4004 of parts of a radar system

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for an analysis tool for analysisis of the sensor performance of a system of sensors, which method comprises analytical calculation of a sensor system'"'"'s measurement characteristics at each point in a given geographical area. The method comprises obtaining performacne parameters (1, 2, 3) from N sensors that are in the system. The method is characterized in that a set of analytical performance parameters (5) for the system is calculated by the performance parameters (1, 2, 3) being fused irrespective of the different measurement characteristics of the sensors in the system with regard to the given perforamance parameters (1, 2, 3) and in that the analyticcal parameters are used in the analysis of the performance of the sensor system. The invention also relates to a device for use of the method and to the use of the method and the device.

Claims

1. Method for an analysis tool for analysis of sensor performance for a system of sensors, which method comprises analytical calculation of a sensor system'"'"'s measurement characteristics at each point in a given geographical area, which method comprises:

obtaining performance parameters from N_s sensors that are in the system, characterized in that;

a set of analytical performance parameters for the system is calculated by the performance parameters being fused irrespective of the different measurement characteristics of the sensors in the system with regard to the given performance parameters and in that;

the analytical performance parameters are used for analysis of the sensor system'"'"'s performance.

2. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that obtaining performance parameters comprises obtaining performance parameters comprising:

p_ss,i=detection probability per scan for targets with a particular target area for the sensor N_s=i;

R_i=measurement accuracy expressed as covariance matrix for the sensor N_s=i;

T_i=searching time for the search area for the sensor N_s=i, and;

p_fa,i=the probability of false alarms for a sensor.

3. Method according to claim 2, characterized in that the calculation of the analytical performance parameters comprises calculations on the basis of the performance parameters which calculations comprise the formulae:

4. Method according to claim 3, characterized in that probabilities for different events that concern the tracking procedure are calculated by using the calculated measurement rate,

5. Method according to claim 3, characterized in that a filter for the sensor system is calculated by using the calculated effective measurement rate,

6. Method according to claim 5, characterized in that:

the said formulae are used to calculate the sensor system'"'"'s measurement characteristics in order to calculate with a filter the sensor system'"'"'s tracking performance for tracking measured objects, and in order that

the filter for the system gives a covariant matrix, P, which is read off as a covariance matrix that gives the tracking accuracy of the sensor system at each point in a given area.

7. Method according to claim 5, characterized in that the sensor system'"'"'s stationary characteristics are calculated by a filter'"'"'s stationary state being calculated at each point over a given area, which calculation comprises the said formulae:

8. Method according to claim 5, characterized in that the sensor system'"'"'s dynamic characteristics are calculated by a filter being calculated based on parallel target paths of a target with given values of speed and course, which calculation also comprises the said formulae:

9. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that an adaptive sensor is regarded as a sensor system.

17. Use of a method according to claim 1 and a device for a sensor system comprising at least one sensor.

10. Device for analytical calculation of a sensor system'"'"'s performance comprising N_s sensors, which device comprises means for combining performance parameters in the form of measurement characteristics from the respective said sensors characterized in that the device comprises means for fusion of the performance parameters by weighting of the measurement contributions of the respective said sensors, which device comprises means for calculating analytical performance parameters for the sensor system, which means for calculating analytical performance parameters for the sensor system is independent of the different measurement characteristics of the sensors in the system on account of the weighting of the measurement contribution of the respective said sensors.

11. Device according to claim 10, characterized in that the device comprises means for calculating a filter'"'"'s stationary state at each point over a given area.

12. Device according to claim 10, characterized in that the device comprises means for calculating a filter'"'"'s dynamic characteristics on the basis of parallel target paths for a target with given values for speed and course.

13. Device according to claim 10, characterized in that at least one of the sensors in the sensor system is a passive sensor.

14. Device according to claim 10, characterized in that at least one of the sensors in the sensor system is an active sensor.

15. Device according to claim 10, characterized in that at least one of the sensors in the sensor system is an adaptive sensor.

16. Device according to claim 10, characterized in that at least one of the sensors in the sensor system is a radar unit.