Track-before-detect

In [[radar]] technology and similar fields, '''track-before-detect''' ('''TBD''') is a concept according to which a signal is [[Radar tracker|tracked]] before declaring it a target. In this approach, the sensor data about a tentative target are integrated over time and may yield detection in cases when signals from any particular time instance are too weak against clutter (low [[signal-to-noise ratio]]) to register a detected target.<ref name=fusion>David L. Hall, James Llinas (2001) "Handbook of Multisensor Data Fusion", {{ISBN|0-8493-2379-7}} [https://books.google.com/books?id=KsyudwLq9gsC&pg=PT249&dq=%22track+before+detect%22&ei=3Xj2R-O9NqeGtgOQ5fCwAg&sig=iobq-FkyWb7OCz0MGIFWYKAk_vg p. 10-30]</ref>

The TBD approach may be applied both for pure detection when the tentative target displays a very small amount of apparent motion, as well as for actual motion tracking. In the first case the problem is considerably simpler, both in terms of the amount of calculation and the complexity of algorithms.<ref>L. C. Jain, N. S. Ichalkaranje, G. Tonfoni (Eds.) (2002) "Advances in Intelligent Systems for Defence", [https://books.google.com/books?id=K69lgX6fhuMC&pg=PA394&dq=%22track+before+detect%22&sig=EdUzYSPo7F4zR36DKDQudG1WJeo#PPA394,M1 p. 394]</ref>

==See also== * [[Track while scan]] * [[Vehicle tracking system]]

==References== {{reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Track-Before-Detect}} [[Category:Radar signal processing]]

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