Radar sensor network resource allocation for fused target tracking: A brief review

Traditional networked radar fusion technology adopts an open-loop signal processing manner, in which multiple nodes independently detect or track target first, and then send their raw data or processed measurements to the fusion center for target state estimation. In such a working manner, each radar sensor operates within predetermined rules, adopts fixed transmit and receiving mode for changeable target tracking environment, and thus will definitely cause an insufficient use of its limited resource. Resource allocation (RA) has emerged as a promising technology to exploit the limited radar resource in a more efficient way by allocating the available resource parameters w.r.t. multiple nodes collaboratively in view of the fused target tracking performance. The goal of this paper is to provide a brief overview of the RA methods for fused target tracking in radar sensor network. We mainly investigate the existing RA works and divide them into two types, namely tracking quality constrained RA type and performance driven RA type. Solution techniques for both types appeared in the literatures are also summarized. Finally, some potential future research directions in this field are discussed.