Angle-only tracking with a MSC filter

The authors present an implementation of a tracking filter for use with angle-only measurement data, such as for use with IR sensor data, with principle application in an air-to-air multiple-target tracking environment. The implementation is based upon the modified spherical coordinate (MSC) method. Among the implementation issues discussed are: (a) choice of process noise model so as to balance the competing needs of filter derivative state convergence versus the prevention of excessive lags during target maneuvers, (b) impact of the strength, orientation and duration of ownship maneuvers on the rate and level of range convergence, and (c) the effect of sampling rate, measurement accuracy, and target maneuver upon range estimation accuracy. Expected performance is illustrated through the use of Monte Carlo simulation results