Radar sensor management for detection and tracking

Advancements in sensor technology provide new multi-sensor systems with increasing flexibility. The sensor management process aims to perform sensor actions that support the overall goal of the user of a multi-sensor system. Some sensors can support multiple functions. When the different sensor functions utilise shared resources then the sensor actions must be chosen as a compromise between competing actions. The problem of managing a multifunction electronically scanned array (ESA) radar is considered. The ESA radar is capable of performing surveillance (search) and tracking (revisit) functions. Two criteria are used to determine sensor actions with revisit actions based on the expected information gain and surveillance actions based on the probability of detection for previously undetected targets. The characteristics of the resulting sensor management policy are examined in an illustrative scenario.