Sensor Surveillance Position Mapping for Undetected Targets
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Solution Overview
Problem
Sensor surveillance systems face challenges in efficiently monitoring large geographic volumes with limited sensors, leading to undetected targets and blind spots, necessitating improved methods to optimize sensor usage and minimize sensor deployment while maintaining survivability.
Innovation Solution
A method and system that divides a geographic volume into sections, assumes undetected targets within each, creates patterns based on target category and time elapsed, and adjusts sensor control to focus on likely target locations, using absence of sensor signals to refine patterns and minimize coverage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If more sensors are added to the sensor system, then the coverage of the geographic volume of interest is improved, but the cost and survivability of the sensor system deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The geographic volume of interest is divided into multiple sections, and each section is assigned to specific sensors for monitoring. This segmentation allows the limited sensor resources to be distributed across the entire volume, improving overall coverage without requiring a single sensor to cover the entire area, thus resolving the contradiction between coverage area and number of sensors.
Solution Approach 2:
The sensor routes are dynamically adjusted based on detected target movements and uncertainty patterns. Sensors transition between predefined routes and reactive tracking modes, allowing the system to adapt sensor positions and coverage areas in real-time. This dynamic allocation optimizes the use of limited sensors to maintain maximum coverage against moving targets.
2Productivity
If manual planning of sensor routes is performed, then the sensor usage is optimized to some extent, but the time and skill requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple predefined sensor routes are established in advance for different sections of the geographic volume. These routes are prepared beforehand with optimized scanning patterns, allowing sensors to quickly switch between pre-planned paths without requiring real-time manual planning. This reduces the time and skill needed for operational planning while maintaining scanning efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The system continuously monitors detected targets and uncertainty patterns, then feeds this information back to automatically adjust sensor routing. This closed-loop feedback mechanism replaces manual planning with automated route optimization based on real-time conditions, reducing the need for human intervention while maintaining or improving scanning efficiency.
3Reliability
If sensors scan the entire geographic volume continuously, then detection coverage is improved, but the time to detect moving targets deteriorates due to target movement during scanning
Solution Approach 1:
The geographic volume is divided into multiple sections that are scanned sequentially by different sensors. This segmentation allows the system to cover the entire volume with focused, localized scans rather than one slow comprehensive scan, reducing the time targets can move undetected while maintaining reliable coverage of all areas.
Solution Approach 2:
Sensors follow periodic scanning patterns along predefined routes, systematically covering different sections at regular intervals. This periodic scanning ensures comprehensive coverage over time while maintaining a predictable rhythm that reduces the window of vulnerability to moving targets compared to continuous panning scans.
Data Source
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Figure 3a~3f
AI summary
A sensor surveillance system (100) and a method for determining possible geographic positions of at least one assumed undetected target (la-n) within a geographic volume of interest (200) is provided, wherein for a first point in time ti the following steps are performed: dividing the geographic volume of interest (200) into sections (10); assuming the existence of an assumed undetected target (la-n) at a geographic position within each section (10); and initiating the creation of a pattern (2) defining at least one possible geographic position of the assumed undetected target, said pattern extends at least partially around the geographic position of the assumed undetected target (la-n); wherein the geographic extension of said pattern is determined based on: the category of the assumed undetected target (la-n); and the amount of time that has passed from the first point in time tl. Further, for a second point in time t2 the following steps are performed: determining geographic locations (205) within said geographic volume of interest (200) from where sensor signals show absence of targets; and removing the pattern (2) from the geographic locations (205) from where sensor signals show absence of targets.