Multi-target tracking in dense threat environments

A new approach to multi-target tracking is presented for the mid-course stage of the Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI). This approach is based upon a continuum representation of a cluster of flying objects. The velocities of the flying objects are assumed to be embedded into a smooth velocity field. This assumption is based upon the impossibility of encounters in a high-density cluster between the flying objects. Therefore, the problem is reduced to that of identifying a moving continuum based upon consecutive time frame observations. In contradistinction to the previous approaches, here each target is considered as a center of a small continuous neighborhood subjected to a local-affine transformation, and therefore, the target trajectories do not mix. Obviously, their mixture in plane of sensor view is apparent. The approach is illustrated by an example.