Abstract:
The objective of our research is to design a multi radar data fusion algorithm which
accepts the input from multiple disparate radars and fuse them to generate a precise
and reliable picture for air traffic controllers. Data fusion is a technique used for
efficiently combining the relevant information coming from multiple sources. The
purpose is to achieve estimates and assure better results than those attainable by
depending on a single source.
Multi radar data fusion can be separated into two sub-problems: 1) State estimation 2)
Data Association. Our proposed algorithm efficiently uses gating and data association
techniques to solve the multi radar data fusion problem. Uninterrupted updates of the
radars are the most crucial part of the multi radar data fusion. Therefore, Kalman
filter is used for the prediction of the target if updates are not received from the
radars. When the number of radar increases, the amount of information and data
association complexity also increases. This results in confusion, because single target
is observed multiple times. This phenomenon is known as clutter. Air traffic
controlling is a critical job. Hence, if clutter is observed, it affects the controlling and
decision making process for the operator.
The proposed algorithm is evaluated by using real world data of domestic and
international flights. Different operational scenarios are discussed with air traffic
controllers and three live scenarios are selected for the testing of the algorithm. The
results of the proposed method are compared with the data of Automatic Dependent
Surveillance Broadcast (ADS–B). It is a modern tracking system in which aircraft
uses satellite navigation system to decide its current position and regularly transmits
to its ground bases controlling station. The air traffic controller uses ADS-B receivers
as a replacement of the secondary radars because no interrogation signal is needed
from the ground.
The results of the proposed algorithm are compared with the ADS-B data as a true
reference because of its precision and reliability.
