Three Model IMM-EKF for tracking targets executing evasive maneuvers

A constant jerk model consisting of third order derivative of target position is included in IMM estimator along with constant velocity and constant acceleration models to track a maneuvering target. The motivation for including a higher order model is that agile target maneuvers are likely to have more significant higher order derivatives which lower order tracking models such as constant velocity and constant acceleration models currently in use cannot adequately handle. This has been demonstrated through numerical simulation studies. Inclusion of jerk model in the IMM algorithm shows overall better performance of the tracking filter.