The design of active sonar plot-association gates using a genetic algorithm

In target tracking with an active sonar, a major problem is the association of new echoes with track data previously collected. This paper reports work on a method for associating a sonar target's echoes with an existing track by assigning a degree of association by means of gates, the sizes of which are determined by a genetic algorithm using a simulator. The resultant gates encapsulate the uncertainties and the imperfections imposed by the system and the environment, and also are able to take into account unexpected changes in the target's dynamic behaviour. The results presented here illustrate the effective role of the GA as a robust learner in this application.