A correlation tracking algorithm based on template partition motion estimation was proposed for improving real time performance of the conventional correlation matcnmg algorithms. The imple?mented steps of the method are that target motion trajectory is fitted with least square total interval isometric algorithm to obtain a target prediction point; according to the requirement of a block motion estimation (BME) algorithm, the template is divided into some macro blocks; the searching process is conducted by using a diamond search algorithm for macro blocks around the prediction point, to get optimal motion vectors of all macro block; the point corresponding to the motion vector with the opti?mal matching measurement is set as a rough matching point of the template; the relation of relative po?sition between the block with matching point and the searcnmg area is used to decide whether to con?duct precise matching search or to construct a new search area in the gradient direction. Target track?ing experiment was performed by CCD, image acquisition card of the OK-MIOM type, computer and a controlled automobile remotely. The experimented results show that the calculating time with the proposed method decreases to 3.31 times compared with that of normalized product correlation (NProd) algorithm based on all searching.