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