Adaptive turn rate estimation using range rate measurements

The coordinated turn (CT) model is often used to track maneuvering target which performs CT motion. The key point to the successful use of this model is to determine the turn rate parameter. A new method to estimate the turn rate by using radar range-rate measurements is presented. First, four possible turn rates can be achieved with the range-rate measurements. Second, the minimum turn rate and its opposite value are chosen to be the possible turn rates. Finally, an interacting multiple model (IMM) algorithm with one constant velocity (CV) model and two CT models is designed to track the maneuvering target which performs uniform and ct motions. Monte-Carlo simulation results show that this algorithm is not only better than equivalent noise approach in tracking performance, but also better than the conventional IMM algorithm with the adaptive turn rate model. Further simulations show that the algorithm is robust with the accuracy of the range-rate measurements