The Nose of a Bloodhound: Target Chasing Aided by a Static Sensor Network

The benefits of a large static sensor network to the problem of target chasing are explored. It is shown that a chaser is able to track down a moving target much more quickly with the aid of the static sensor network than without it. These sensors need not communicate with each other, only with the chaser when it comes near. In fact, it is enough for the sensors to remember only when the target was last nearby in order for the chaser to efficiently intercept the target. This can be likened to the target leaving a trail from which the chaser is able to determine how long it has been since the target has been to a particular location, much like how a bloodhound is able to detect the scent of its prey. This trail gives no information about which direction the target was going, only when it was there, but this is still enough to find it.