Wei Mei

Jian Song, Wei Mei, Yunfeng Xu et al.

Motion estimation is a crucial component in multi-object tracking (MOT). It predicts the trajectory of objects by analyzing the changes in their positions in consecutive frames of images, reducing tracking failures and identity switches. The Kalman filter (KF) based on the linear constant-velocity model is one of the most commonly used methods in MOT. However, it may yield unsatisfactory results when KF's parameters are mismatched and objects move in non-stationary. In this work, we utilize the learning-aided filter to handle the motion estimation of MOT. In particular, we propose a novel method named Semantic-Independent KalmanNet (SIKNet), which encodes the state vector (the input feature) using a Semantic-Independent Encoder (SIE) by two steps. First, the SIE uses a 1D convolution with a kernel size of 1, which convolves along the dimension of homogeneous-semantic elements across different state vectors to encode independent semantic information. Then it employs a fully-connected layer and a nonlinear activation layer to encode nonlinear and cross-dependency information between heterogeneous-semantic elements. To independently evaluate the performance of the motion estimation module in MOT, we constructed a large-scale semi-simulated dataset from several open-source MOT datasets. Experimental results demonstrate that the proposed SIKNet outperforms the traditional KF and achieves superior robustness and accuracy than existing learning-aided filters. The code is available at (https://github.com/SongJgit/filternet and https://github.com/SongJgit/TBDTracker).

Wei Mei, Yunfeng Xu, Limin Liu

This paper is to consider the problems of estimation and recognition from the perspective of sigma-max inference (probability-possibility inference), with a focus on discovering whether some of the unknown quantities involved could be more faithfully modeled as fuzzy uncertainty. Two related key issues are addressed: 1) the random-fuzzy dual interpretation of unknown quantity being estimated; 2) the principle of selecting sigma-max operator for practical problems, such as estimation and recognition. Our perspective, conceived from definitions of randomness and fuzziness, is that continuous unknown quantity involved in estimation with inaccurate prior should be more appropriately modeled as randomness and handled by sigma inference; whereas discrete unknown quantity involved in recognition with insufficient (and inaccurate) prior could be better modeled as fuzziness and handled by max inference. The philosophy was demonstrated by an updated version of the well-known interacting multiple model (IMM) filter, for which the jump Markovian System is reformulated as a hybrid uncertainty system, with continuous state evolution modeled as usual as model-conditioned stochastic system and discrete mode transitions modeled as fuzzy system by a possibility (instead of probability) transition matrix, and hypotheses mixing is conducted by using the operation of "max" instead of "sigma". For our example of maneuvering target tracking using simulated data from both a short-range fire control radar and a long-range surveillance radar, the updated IMM filter shows significant improvement over the classic IMM filter, due to its peculiarity of hard decision of system model and a faster response to the transition of discrete mode.

Wei Mei, Ming Li, Yuanzeng Cheng et al.

This paper managed to induce probability theory (sigma system) and possibility theory (max system) respectively from the clearly-defined randomness and fuzziness, while focusing the question why the key axiom of "maxitivity" is adopted for possibility measure. Such an objective is achieved by following three steps: a) the establishment of mathematical definitions of randomness and fuzziness; b) the development of intuitive definition of possibility as measure of fuzziness based on compatibility interpretation; c) the abstraction of the axiomatic definitions of probability/ possibility from their intuitive definitions, by taking advantage of properties of the well-defined randomness and fuzziness. We derived the conclusion that "max" is the only but un-strict disjunctive operator that is applicable across the fuzzy event space, and is an exact operator for extracting the value from the fuzzy sample space that leads to the largest possibility of one. Then a demonstration example of stock price prediction is presented, which confirms that max inference indeed exhibits distinctive performance, with an improvement up to 18.99%, over sigma inference for the investigated application. Our work provides a physical foundation for the axiomatic definition of possibility for the measure of fuzziness, which hopefully would facilitate wider adoption of possibility theory in practice.