  3D multi-object tracking (3D MOT) stands as a pivotal domain within
autonomous driving, experiencing a surge in scholarly interest and commercial
promise over recent years. Despite its paramount significance, 3D MOT confronts
a myriad of formidable challenges, encompassing abrupt alterations in object
appearances, pervasive occlusion, the presence of diminutive targets, data
sparsity, missed detections, and the unpredictable initiation and termination
of object motion trajectories. Countless methodologies have emerged to grapple
with these issues, yet 3D MOT endures as a formidable problem that warrants
further exploration. This paper undertakes a comprehensive examination,
assessment, and synthesis of the research landscape in this domain, remaining
attuned to the latest developments in 3D MOT while suggesting prospective
avenues for future investigation. Our exploration commences with a systematic
exposition of key facets of 3D MOT and its associated domains, including
problem delineation, classification, methodological approaches, fundamental
principles, and empirical investigations. Subsequently, we categorize these
methodologies into distinct groups, dissecting each group meticulously with
regard to its challenges, underlying rationale, progress, merits, and demerits.
Furthermore, we present a concise recapitulation of experimental metrics and
offer an overview of prevalent datasets, facilitating a quantitative comparison
for a more intuitive assessment. Lastly, our deliberations culminate in a
discussion of the prevailing research landscape, highlighting extant challenges
and charting possible directions for 3D MOT research. We present a structured
and lucid road-map to guide forthcoming endeavors in this field.
