Pursuer identification and time-to-go estimation using passive measurements from an evader

We present an algorithm for identifying the parameters of a proportional navigation guidance missile (pursuer) pursuing an airborne target (evader) using angle-only measurements from the latter. This is done for the purpose of classifying the missile so that appropriate counter-measures can be taken. Mathematical models are constructed for a pursuer with a changing velocity, i.e., a direction change and a speed change. Assuming the pursuer is launched from the ground with fixed thrust, its motion can be described by a four-dimensional parameter vector consisting of its proportional navigation constant and three parameters related to thrusting. Consequently, the problem can be solved as a parameter estimation problem, rather than state estimation and we provide an estimator based on maximum likelihood (ML) to solve it. The parameter estimates obtained can be mapped into the time-to-go until intercept estimation results are presented for different scenarios together with the Cramer-Rao lower bound (CRLB), which quantifies the best achievable estimation accuracy. The accuracy of the time-to-go estimate is also obtained. Simulation results demonstrate that the proposed estimator is efficient by meeting the CRLB.

[1]  Yakov Bar-Shalom,et al.  Multitarget-Multisensor Tracking: Principles and Techniques , 1995 .

[2]  Pure Proportional Navigation Against Time-Varying Target Maneuvers - Aerospace and Electronic Systems, IEEE Transactions on , 1998 .

[3]  K. Becker Closed-form solution of pure proportional navigation , 1990 .

[4]  J. Chern,et al.  Solutions of true proportional navigation for maneuvering and nonmaneuvering targets , 1992 .

[5]  Taek Lyul Song,et al.  Practical guidance for homing missiles with bearings-only measurements , 1996 .

[6]  Solutions of generalized proportional navigation with maneuvering and nonmaneuvering targets , 1995 .

[7]  Thia Kirubarajan,et al.  Estimation with Applications to Tracking and Navigation: Theory, Algorithms and Software , 2001 .

[8]  Fei-Bin Hsiao,et al.  Generalized guidance law for homing missiles , 1989 .

[9]  Paul Zarchan,et al.  Tactical and strategic missile guidance , 1990 .

[10]  M. Guelman Proportional Navigation with a Maneuvering Target , 1972, IEEE Transactions on Aerospace and Electronic Systems.

[11]  F. A. Seiler,et al.  Numerical Recipes in C: The Art of Scientific Computing , 1989 .

[12]  Yaakov Bar-Shalom,et al.  Passive ranging of a low observable ballistic missile in a gravitational field , 2001 .

[13]  J. Chern,et al.  Ideal Proportional Navigation , 1992 .

[14]  Pin-Jar Yuan,et al.  Analytic Study of Biased Proportional Navigation , 1992 .

[15]  In-Joong Ha,et al.  Performance analysis of PNG laws for randomly maneuvering targets , 1990 .

[16]  U. S. Shukla,et al.  Generalized linear solution of proportional navigation , 1988 .

[17]  H. Vincent Poor,et al.  An Introduction to Signal Detection and Estimation , 1994, Springer Texts in Electrical Engineering.

[18]  Stephen A. Murtaugh,et al.  Fundamentals of proportional navigation , 1966, IEEE Spectrum.

[19]  Yaakov Bar-Shalom,et al.  Track formation with bearing and frequency measurements in clutter , 1990 .

[20]  S. Sivananthan,et al.  A radar power multiplier algorithm for acquisition of low observable ballistic missiles using an ESA radar , 1999, 1999 IEEE Aerospace Conference. Proceedings (Cat. No.99TH8403).