Self-Tuning Distributed Fusion Filter for Multi-Sensor Networked Systems with Unknown Packet Receiving Rates, Noise Variances, and Model Parameters

In this study, we researched the problem of self-tuning (ST) distributed fusion state estimation for multi-sensor networked stochastic linear discrete-time systems with unknown packet receiving rates, noise variances (NVs), and model parameters (MPs). Packet dropouts may occur when sensor data are sent to a local processor. A Bernoulli distributed stochastic variable is adopted to depict phenomena of packet dropouts. By model transformation, the identification problem of packet receiving rates is transformed into that of unknown MPs for a new augmented system. The recursive extended least squares (RELS) algorithm is used to simultaneously identify packet receiving rates and MPs in the original system. Then, a correlation function method is used to identify unknown NVs. Further, a ST distributed fusion state filter is achieved by applying identified packet receiving rates, NVs, and MPs to the corresponding optimal estimation algorithms. It is strictly proven that ST algorithms converge to optimal algorithms under the condition that the identifiers for parameters are consistent. Two examples verify the effectiveness of the proposed algorithms.