Data fusion for detecting sonar contacts from multiple sensors

The detection performance for fusing the output of multiple acoustic sensors is considered. Three fusion methods are analyzed and compared: fuse by summing-N-signals; the M-of-N processor, based on 0,1 decisions at each sensor; and threshold-and-sum N threshold signals. The last process uses two thresholds: T/sub 1/ which sets a lower limit on signal amplitudes for processing; and T/sub 2/, the detection threshold for the N summed signals which are greater than T/sub 1/. Eliminating low SNR data decreases data rates in the processor, and in practical situations, can improve the detection performance of a system when compared to the above processors. >