The switching Kalman filtering (SKF) method is a variant of the Kalman filter. In its generalised form, it is often attributed to Kevin P. Murphy, [1] [2] [3] [4] but related switching state-space models have been in use.
Applications of the switching Kalman filter include: Brain–computer interfaces and neural decoding, real-time decoding for continuous neural-prosthetic control, [5] and sensorimotor learning in humans. [6] It also has application in econometrics, [7] signal processing, tracking, [8] computer vision, etc. It is an alternative to the Kalman filter when the system's state has a discrete component. The additional error when using a Kalman filter instead of a Switching Kalman filter may be quantified in terms of the switching system's parameters. [9] For example, when an industrial plant has "multiple discrete modes of behaviour, each of which having a linear (Gaussian) dynamics". [10]
There are several variants of SKF discussed in. [1]
In the simpler case, switching state-space models are defined based on a switching variable which evolves independent of the hidden variable. The probabilistic model of such variant of SKF is as the following: [10]
[This section is badly written: It does not explain the notation used below.]
The hidden variables include not only the continuous , but also a discrete *switch* (or switching) variable . The dynamics of the switch variable are defined by the term . The probability model of and can depend on .
The switch variable can take its values from a set . This changes the joint distribution which is a separate multivariate Gaussian distribution in case of each value of .
In more generalised variants, [1] the switch variable affects the dynamics of , e.g. through . [8] [7] The filtering and smoothing procedure for general cases is discussed in. [1]