Network-centric MFA tracking architectures

Multiple frame association (MFA) based on multiple dimensional assignment problems has been developed for a centralized communication and tracking architecture, but such an architecture suffers from communication overloading, single-point failure, and data latency over the network of platforms. Thus, one must turn to decentralized architectures with the objectives being to affordably preserve the quality of MFA attained on a centralized architecture while managing communication loading and achieving a consistent air picture across the multiple tracking platforms. Such objectives present some of the most challenging tracking research problems. Thus, the goal of this work is to develop and test some initial architectures developed for network centric (decentralized) multiple frame association (Network MFA), namely, MFA Centralized, Replicated MFA Centralized, Network MFA on Local Data and Network Tracks, and Network MFA on All Data and Network Tracks. Based on well-established performance metrics, the relative merits of the architectures are also discussed.