Sequential Monte Carlo Methods In Practice

Monte Carlo methods are revolutionizing the on-line analysis of data in fields as diverse as financial modelling, target tracking, and computer vision. These methods, appearing under the names of bootstrap filters, condensation, optimal Monte Carlo filters, particle filters, and survival of the fittest, have made it possible to solve numerically many complex, nonstandard problems that were previously intractable. This book presents the first comprehensive and coherent treatment of these techniques, including convergence results and applications to tracking, guidance, automated target recognition, aircraft navigation, robot navigation, econometrics, financial modelling, neural networks, optimal control, optimal filtering, communications, reinforcement learning, signal enhancement, model averaging and selection, computer vision, semiconductor design, population biology, dynamic Bayesian networks, and time series analysis. This book will be of great value to students, researchers, and practitioners who have some basic knowledge of probability.