State Space Models

This chapter introduces state space models and provides some motivating examples. Linear Gaussian and non-linear, non-Gaussian models are introduced. Examples include linear trend and seasonal time series, time-varying regression, bearings-only tracking, financial time series and systems identification state space models. The chapter sets the stage for the book and provides a chapter-by-chapter description of the book. The chapter includes a brief historical overview of the developments that led to the discovery of the Kalman filter and the research directions in the wider field of state space modelling.