Performance evaluation of distributed Track-to-Track fusion systems

Implications of network-centric considerations provide additional challenges for fusing track information from distributed and heterogeneous sources. In this paper a multisensor tracking system that consists of distributed active and passive sensors is used to describe a distributed Track-to-Track (T2T) fusion system. Network-centric operations manifest an extended design space for the distributed T2T fusion systems. This paper describes a Design of Experiments (DoE) approach to comprehend the extended design space of the distributed T2T fusion systems. Using statistical analysis techniques, ANOVA and Tukey HSD tests, we quantify the impact of key system design variables on the distributed T2T fusion system performance. The sensitivity analysis, based on statistical results, establishes the significance of interactions between system design variables and emphasizes the need for design and evaluation of the distributed T2T fusion systems in a system of systems context.