Abstract
The problem of optimal data fusion in the sense of the Neyman- Pearson (N-P) test in a centralized fusion center is considered. The fusion center receives data from various distributed sensors. Each sensor implements a N-P test individually and independently of the other sensors. Due to limitations in channel capacity, the sensors transmit their decision instead of raw data. In addition to their decisions, the sensors may transmit one or more bits of quality information. The optimal, in the N-P sense, decision scheme at the fusion center is derived and it is seen that an improvement in the performance of the system beyond that of the most reliable sensor is feasible, even without quality information, for a system of three or more sensors. If quality information bits are also available at the fusion center, the performance of the distributed decision scheme is comparable to that of the centralized N-P test. Several examples are provided and an algorithm for adjusting the threshold level at the fusion center is provided.
Recommended Citation
Thomopoulos, Stelios C., Viswanathan, R. and Bougoulias, Dimitrios C. "Optimal Decision Fusion in Multiple Sensor Systems." (Sep 1987).
Comments
Thomopoulos, S.C.A., Viswanathan, R., & Bougoulias, D.C. (1987). Optimal decision fusion in multiple sensor systems. IEEE Transactions on Aerospace and Electronic Systems, AES-23(5), 644 - 653. DOI: 10.1109/TAES.1987.310858 ©1987 IEEE. Personal use of this material is permitted. However, permission to reprint/republish this material for advertising or promotional purposes or for creating new collective works for resale or redistribution to servers or lists, or to reuse any copyrighted component of this work in other works must be obtained from the IEEE. This material is presented to ensure timely dissemination of scholarly and technical work. Copyright and all rights therein are retained by authors or by other copyright holders. All persons copying this information are expected to adhere to the terms and constraints invoked by each author's copyright. In most cases, these works may not be reposted without the explicit permission of the copyright holder.