Paper detail

Joint Detection and Estimation: Optimum Tests and Applications

We consider a well defined joint detection and parameter estimation problem. By combining the Baysian formulation of the estimation subproblem with suitable constraints on the detection subproblem we develop optimum one- and two-step test for the joint detection/estimation case. The proposed combined strategies have the very desirable characteristic to allow for the trade-off between detection power and estimation efficiency. Our theoretical developments are then applied to the problems of retrospective changepoint detection and MIMO radar. In the former case we are interested in detecting a change in the statistics of a set of available data and provide an estimate for the time of change, while in the latter in detecting a target and estimating its location. Intense simulations demonstrate that by using the jointly optimum schemes, we can experience significant improvement in estimation quality with small sacrifice in detection power.