Target Detection and Identification with a Heterogeneous Sensor Network by Strategic Resource Allocation and Coordination

In this paper, an approach for target acquisition and identification with a heterogeneous sensor network through strategic resource allocation and coordination is presented. Based on sensor management technologies, low performance sensors are deployed to guide and cue scarce high performance sensors in the network to best improve the data quality. We focus on the problem of designing such a network system in which issues of resource selection and allocation, system behavior and performance, and multiple constraints must be addressed simultaneously. Simulation results offer significant insight into sensor selection and network operation, and demonstrate the benefits introduced by guided search in an application of target localization and identification on the battlefield