Simple Kalman Filter Implementation for Beginners

Resource Overview

A MATLAB implementation of a basic Kalman filter, designed for beginners to learn state estimation and signal processing techniques with practical code examples and algorithm explanations.

Detailed Documentation

In this article, we demonstrate how to implement a Kalman filter using MATLAB, a widely-used signal processing technique. The Kalman filter is a recursive linear filter designed for estimating the state of linear dynamic systems. Originally developed by Rudolf Kalman in 1960, this algorithm has extensive real-world applications including tracking systems, navigation systems, and control systems. We will begin by explaining the fundamental principles of Kalman filtering, then guide you through the MATLAB implementation process. The implementation will cover key components such as state prediction equations (x_pred = A*x_est + B*u), measurement updates (K = P_pred*H'*inv(H*P_pred*H' + R)), and covariance propagation (P_pred = A*P_est*A' + Q). This tutorial is specifically designed for beginners, providing clear code examples and step-by-step explanations to help you master Kalman filter implementation in MATLAB for basic state estimation tasks.