Designs of Sensor Networks and Algorithms for Multi Modal Target Tracking

Abstract:
Sensor and sensor network problems are rich with intellectual challenges for signal processing, computer vision, and operations research. In this talk, we present problems and solution algorithms related to the collection of sensor data, their analysis and interpretation, and the overall design of sensor networks for optimal detection, initialization, tracking, and classification.

We first address vehicle classification and tracking problems using acoustic, video, and radar sensors. We formulate solutions for joint acoustic-video and acoustic-radar target tracking problems with particle filters. Each joint tracker incorporates target acoustic propagation delays for robust operation. For classification, we determine a vehicle’s speed, width, and length by jointly estimating its acoustic wave-pattern using a single passive acoustic sensor that records the vehicle’s drive-by noise. We further improve the acoustic classification results with a video sensor via silhouette extraction and wheel detection.

We then investigate an optimal resource allocation problem for sensor networks with limited connectivity. Our focus is the network build strategy, where we determine the number of sensors of different types to deploy from a sensor pool that offers a distinct cost vs. performance trade-off for each type of sensor. For generality, we consider randomly deployed sensor networks and formulate constrained optimization techniques in a Bayesian experimental design framework to obtain the best knowledge about a given state-of-nature represented by a finite number of parameters, and to make the optimal decisions for statistical classification problems based on the Neyman-Pearson fundamental lemma. We illustrate the results by building an acoustic sensor network for vehicle position tracking.

We conclude the talk by discussing future opportunities for signal processing research in brain-computer interface problems.

Biography:
Volkan Cevher was born in Ankara, Turkey, in 1978. He received his B.Sc. degree in Electrical Engineering from Bilkent University, Ankara, Turkey in 1999 as a valedictorian. During summer of 2003, he was employed by Schlumberger Doll Research. In Fall 2004, he was the co-recipient of the Center for Signal and Image Processing Outstanding Research Award. He received his Ph.D. degree in Electrical Engineering from Georgia Institute of Technology in 2005. He worked as a postdoctoral fellow at Georgia Institute of Technology under the supervision of Dr. James H. McClellan till the end of 2005. He is currently working with Dr. Rama Chellappa as a research associate on computer vision problems. His research interests include array signal processing, pattern recognition, Monte-Carlo Markov chain methods, and brain-computer interface problems.