An extended target tracking algorithm based on trajectory feedback constrained spatial information

Accurately estimating the state of extended targets is a major challenge because measurement numbers and distributions change significantly, especially when tracking targets are close or overlapping. To solve the track fragmentation problem caused by spatial measurement ambiguity, a novel Trajectory Situation Feedback-based Gaussian Mixture Model Expectation Maximization (TSF-GMM-EM) method is proposed within the framework of the Gaussian Mixture Probability Hypothesis Density (GM-PHD) filter. The proposed method feeds historical trajectory information back to guide current measurement partitioning and motion estimation while providing prior-guided initialization for the EM process, thereby improving partitioning reliability during target intersections and accelerating clustering convergence. Experimental results show that the TSF-GMM-EM method limits the peak OSPA error to approximately 12 m during target intersections. It also maintains a measurement partitioning accuracy above 0.946 in overlapping target scenarios.

Authors

Institutions

Publication Details

Journal
PLoS ONE
Published
2026-09-18
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0357813
Primary Topic
Target Tracking and Data Fusion in Sensor Networks
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
0.00
Controls
|||
ALL TIME
JAN
FEB
MAR
APR
MAY
JUN
JUL
AUG
SEP
article

An extended target tracking algorithm based on trajectory feedback constrained spatial information

Yuting Zhang, Hantao Li, Jiye Li
PLoS ONE
Target Tracking and Data Fusion in Sensor Networks
article

An extended target tracking algorithm based on trajectory feedback constrained spatial information

Yuting Zhang, Hantao Li, Jiye Li
article en

Abstract

Accurately estimating the state of extended targets is a major challenge because measurement numbers and distributions change significantly, especially when tracking targets are close or overlapping. To solve the track fragmentation problem caused by spatial measurement ambiguity, a novel Trajectory Situation Feedback-based Gaussian Mixture Model Expectation Maximization (TSF-GMM-EM) method is proposed within the framework of the Gaussian Mixture Probability Hypothesis Density (GM-PHD) filter. The proposed method feeds historical trajectory information back to guide current measurement partitioning and motion estimation while providing prior-guided initialization for the EM process, thereby improving partitioning reliability during target intersections and accelerating clustering convergence. Experimental results show that the TSF-GMM-EM method limits the peak OSPA error to approximately 12 m during target intersections. It also maintains a measurement partitioning accuracy above 0.946 in overlapping target scenarios.

PLoS ONEVol. 21(9)
Chongqing University of Education (CN), Chengdu Technological University, Qingdao University of Technology (CN)
Openalex Percentile: Top 9%
Target Tracking and Data Fusion in Sensor Networks
AI Navigator

Ask Laika to Summarize, Analyze, and Connect papers live on the map.

Summarize Papers & Methodologies

Extract key findings, datasets, and comparative methods across publications.

Benchmark Rankings & Visual Analytics

Rank top research institutions, authors, funders, topics, and journals by Field-Weighted Citation Impact (FWCI) and paper volume with instant charts.

Connect Distant Disciplines

Bridge topological clusters on the map to find hidden collaborative intersections.

An extended target tracking algorithm based on trajectory feedback constrained spatial information — Yuting Zhang, Hantao Li, et al. · PLoS ONE (2026) | TGRS Research Map | TGRS