Bayesian approaches to track existence - IPDA and random sets

Most target tracking algorithms implicitly assume that target exists. There are only a few techniques that address the target existence problem along with target tracking. For example, (Integrated Probabilistic Data Association) IPDA filter addresses the target tracking and target existence problems simultaneously and it does so under at most one target assumption. In recent times random sets have been proposed as a general framework for multiple target tracking problem. However, its relationship to well understood existing tracking algorithms like IPDA has not been explored. In this paper, we show that under appropriate conditions random sets provide appropriate mathematical framework for solving the joint target existence and state estimation problem and subsequently show that it results in IPDA under appropriate simplifying assumptions.