Target tracking for maneuvering reentry vehicles using multiple maneuvering models

Reentry vehicles are influenced by aerodynamic forces and experience strong ly nonlinear motion. When tracking such targets, accurately modeling the ta rget using an extended Kalman filter is essential in providing accurate tra cking. However, the model descriptions have limits. If the maneuvering mode l for the tracking filter deviates or the target undergoes maneuvers, the t racking precision will fall. In this paper the authors propose a tracking f ilter based on a multiple maneuvering model as a tracking method for maneuv ering reentry vehicles going through complex trajectories. This multiple ma neuvering model adds several constant acceleration vectors to alter the tra jectory of the target for the past maneuvering models used for maneuvering reentry vehicles. Computer simulations were used to demonstrate the effecti veness of this algorithm. The results show that tracking precision near the impact point is improved over traditional tracking methods. (C) 2000 Scrip ta Technica.