Multi-Sensor Tracking Latency Reduction via Virtual Radar Grid
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current multi-sensor tracking systems in air traffic control face high latency issues due to complex calculations and variable transmission times, making it difficult to comply with the DO-286B - TIS-B MASPS standard and causing 'time disorders' and missed detections near the radar center.
Innovation Solution
A method that synthesizes sensor detections into a single fictitious radar with internal virtual sectors, using a two-dimensional grid for correlation and association based on proximity and time criteria, reducing the need for buffer memory and allowing on-the-fly processing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If complex calculations are performed for multi-sensor tracking correlation and association, then tracking accuracy is improved, but latency increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the tracking process into distinct phases: detection synthesis, correlation with tracks, and association. By organizing processing into discrete stages with clear entry and exit criteria, the system can process detections efficiently without performing unnecessary complex calculations on all detections simultaneously, thus reducing latency while maintaining tracking accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary synthesis of detections from multiple sensors into a unified detection set before correlation and association operations. This preliminary organization of data structures and pre-computation of detection parameters reduces the computational complexity of subsequent tracking operations, enabling faster processing with reduced latency.
2Reliability
If buffer memory is increased to store detections for correlation, then tracking reliability is improved, but latency increases due to waiting time
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic buffer management where the buffer stores detections only for the duration of the current virtual sector, and detections are processed as soon as correlation criteria are met. The system dynamically adjusts processing based on detection timing and track availability, eliminating fixed waiting periods while maintaining reliable tracking through conditional processing thresholds.
3Ease of operation
If radar sectoring is used for data processing, then data organization is simplified, but detection accuracy near radar center deteriorates due to time disorders
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a fictitious radar with virtual sectors as an intermediary layer between actual radar sensors and the tracking system. This virtual radar synthesizes detections from multiple physical sensors into a unified coordinate system, eliminating the time disorders caused by physical radar sectoring while maintaining simplified data organization through the virtual sector structure. The intermediary transformation resolves the conflict between organizational simplicity and detection accuracy.
4Reliability
If transmission time variability is accommodated with larger buffers, then system reliability is improved, but latency increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements periodic processing triggered by virtual sector boundaries rather than continuous processing. Detections are accumulated and processed in periodic cycles corresponding to virtual sector rotations, which regularizes the processing rhythm and reduces latency caused by variable transmission times. This periodic structure provides predictable processing intervals while maintaining reliability through consistent processing cycles.
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3a
Figure 3b
AI summary
The method involves establishing a two-dimensional grid (501) of a stereographic projection plane, where the two-dimensional grid is divided into rectangular shape cells (510, 511, 512). Detections (502) produced during internal virtual segment are stored in a buffer memory by a radio tracking system. Correlation of the detections is linked with tracks (503, 504) based on a proximity criterion between the cells of the two-dimensional grid containing the detections and the tracks. : An independent claim is also included for an air traffic control system. USE : Method for processing tracking of multiple plot-variable update multi-sensor in an air traffic control system (claimed) to prevent collisions between an aircraft and ground or vehicles and in-flight collisions between aircrafts. ADVANTAGE : The method enables processing multiple plot-variable update multi-sensor without usage of an additional buffer memory, thus reducing latency time. DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS : The drawing shows a schematic view illustrating a correlation method implemented in a multiple-sensor radar tracking system. 501 : Two-dimensional grid 502 : Correlation of detections 503- 508 : Tracks 510, 511, 512 : Rectangular shape cells.