A single-target tracking algorithm in controlled mobility sensor networks

Abstract : This paper deals with the problem of single target tracking in controlled mobility sensor networks. It thus proposes an original strategy to manage the mobility of sensor nodes, in order to improve the estimation of the positions of the target. The proposed method consists of estimating the actual position of the target, then it uses position estimates to predict a region where the target is assumed to fall in the next time-step. A structure of triangle is then defined, aiming at covering at best the predicted area. Each mobile sensor is then assigned a position at the vertices of the structure, in the way to minimize the total traveled distance by the nodes. One constraint for this technique is to maintain the total coverage of the network. For this reason, we propose to use a hybrid network, including static nodes, as well, to insure continuously the coverage of the network. Simulation results corroborate the efficiency of the proposed method compared to the target tracking methods considered for networks with static nodes.