Infrared Small Target Detection Based on Multiscale Local Contrast Measure Using Local Energy Factor

Dim and small infrared target fast detection guided by visual saliency

A pixel-level local contrast measure for infrared small target detection

Research on Infrared Dim and Small Target Detection Algorithm Based on Low-Rank Tensor Recovery

Small and dim target detection is a critical challenge in hyperspectral remote sensing, particularly in complex, large-scale scenes where spectral variability across diverse land cover types complicates the detection process. In this paper, we propose a novel target reasoning algorithm named Adaptive Global Dense Nested Reasoning Network (AGDNR). This algorithm integrates spatial, spectral, and domain knowledge to enhance the detection accuracy of small and dim targets in large-scale environments and simultaneously enables reasoning about target categories. The proposed method involves three key innovations. Firstly, we develop a high-dimensional, multi-layer nested U-Net that facilitates cross-layer feature transfer, preserving high-level features of small and dim targets throughout the network. Secondly, we present a novel approach for computing physicochemical parameters, which enhances the spectral characteristics of targets while minimizing environmental interference. Thirdly, we construct a geographic knowledge graph that incorporates both target and environmental information, enabling global target reasoning and more effective detection of small targets across large-scale scenes. Experimental results on three challenging datasets show that our method outperforms state-of-the-art approaches in detection accuracy and achieves successful classification of different small targets. Consequently, the proposed method offers a robust solution for the precise detection of hyperspectral small targets in large-scale scenarios.

This paper presents a new small target detection method using scale invariant feature. Detecting small targets whose sizes are varying is very important to automatic target detection in infrared search and track (IRST). The conventional spatial filtering methods with fixed sized kernel show limited target detection performance for incoming targets. The scale invariant target detection can be defined as searching for maxima in the 3D (x, y, and scale) representation of an image with the Laplacian function. The scale invariant feature can detect different sizes of targets robustly. Experimental results with real FLIR images show higher detection rate and lower false alarm rate than conventional methods. Furthermore, the proposed method shows very low false alarms in scan-based IR images than conventional filters.

High-precision detection of small targets with low signal-to-noise ratio in infrared (IR) images has great significance for IR precise guidance, video surveillance, etc. In this paper, we proposed a novel method called centre-surround high-boost filter-based improved local Weber contrast measure. First, centre-surround high-boost filter is proposed to fully utilize the grey difference information, which reduces the influence of the non-homogeneous background such as cumulus sky, sea-sky clutters and high brightness edge. Then, an improved local Weber contrast measure is used to construct the contrast operator of the ratio-difference joint form for further target contrast enhancement and arbitrary interference suppression. Finally, we apply an adaptive thresholding segmentation to find the true target. Experimental results on various cluttered background sequences demonstrate that our proposed method can detect small targets with higher detection rate and lower false alarm rate, and the performance is more stable than five comparable methods in diverse scenarios.

The infrared (IR) small target detection algorithm with a high detection rate, low false alarm rate, and high real-time performance has significant application value in the field of IR remote sensing. IR small targets in complex backgrounds have low contrast and low signal-to-noise ratio (SNR). Therefore, small target detection is more difficult. Traditional IR small target detection is generally implemented by local contrast methods (LCM), nonlocal autocorrelation methods (NAM), and adaptive segmentation. In this letter, a robust infrared small target detection network (RISTDnet) is proposed based on deep learning. In RISTDnet, a feature extraction framework combining handcrafted feature methods and convolutional neural networks is constructed, a mapping network between feature maps and the likelihood of small targets in the image is established, and a threshold is applied on the likelihood map to segment real targets. Experimental results show that the RISTDnet can detect small targets with different sizes and low SNRs in complex backgrounds and have better effectiveness and robustness against existing algorithms.

To detect small infrared targets under the condition of dense clutters, we propose a single-frame target detection algorithm based on a small bounding-box filter, which is characterized by good adaptability to the position and size of a small target. During the small target detection process, the proposed algorithm first searches for the local maximum gray pixel and then, a set of concentric bounding boxes whose center is the pixel found in the first step is constructed, and the detection thresholds of a neighboring region of this pixel are calculated based on the bounding boxes. Finally, the minimum threshold is used to detect small target pixels in the neighboring region. A fast version of the proposed algorithm is a minimum bounding-box filter, which can be implemented by dividing an image into blocks and using the mid-range and range to assess the concentration trend and dispersion of the background. Simulation and analysis results show that the proposed algorithm can achieve high detection probability and low false alarm rate when detecting small targets in the complex background; while its fast version has high computational efficiency. The proposed algorithm can be used in infrared searching and tracking systems.

It is always a difficult challenge to detect small infrared targets under complex background and ensure high detection rate and low false alarm rate. In this paper, a detection method based on morphological Top-hat filtering and local energy difference is proposed. This method utilizes the advantage that morphological Top-hat filter can suppress the backgTround, and then segmented the image based on local energy difference to identify small targets. In this paper, the specific detection process of this method is given, and a number of small infrared target grayscale images under complex background are selected for the simulation experiment. The experimental results show that this method has a high detection rate and a low false alarm rate, and is of certain reference value for the detection of small infrared targets under complex background.

Infrared (IR) small target detection in complex backgrounds is one of the key technologies in IR search and tracking applications. Although significant progress has been made over the past few decades, how to separate a small target from complex backgrounds remains a challenging task. In this letter, a novel small target detection method via multidirectional derivative-based weighted contrast measure (MDWCM) is proposed. Initially, multidirectional derivative subbands are quickly obtained by the facet model. Then, an effective division scheme of surrounding area is performed to capture the derivative properties of the target. A new local contrast measure is constructed to simultaneously enhance the target and suppress the background clutter. Third, the MDWCM maps constructed from all derivative subbands are integrated to enhance the robustness of detection. Finally, the small target is extracted by an adaptive segmentation method. The experimental results demonstrate that the proposed algorithm performs favorably compared to other state-of-the-art methods.

This paper discusses the objectives of the Air Force's Infrared Search and Track (IRST) Advanced Development Program and the basic elements of an infrared system that must be analyzed prior to the design of an IRST system. Why Is An IRST Needed? The development and deploynient of IRST systems is essential to meet the critical needs of modern air-to-air warfare. These needs are: o Operation in jamming environment o Long-range detection The high-velocity targets at high altitude creates a severe time compression problem for successful intercept which imposes a need for long range detection. Because of the intense IR radiation of the high fast target, an Infrared Search Track System can provide this long-range detection capability. It performs this task passively, on both large and small radar cross-section targets, without being hindered by jamming. The prime features of the IRST against the low altitude tactical targets is again passive detection without degradation by jamming. IRST detection range at low altitude is much less than for the high altitude targets because the targets fly slower, radiate less IR energy and there is significantly more atmospheric attenuation. IRST Program Overview Infrared Search and Track Systems (IRSTS) are now under development by the Air Force (AFWALIAART-1). General Electric and ITT Avionics were awarded contracts in 1981 for the design, fabricatjon and flight test of an IRST system. Both IRST systems are packaged in a pod that will be mounted for flight test on the left forward inboard missile (AIM-7) location on the F-15 test aircraft. The flight test is a feasibility demonstration to determine the relative quantitative and qualitative effectiveness and utility of an IRST as a complement to an airborne intercept radar. The IRSTS will be evaluated under a wjde range of offset angles, relative velocities, ranges and altitudes, emphasizing realistic operational scenarios.

In the field of infrared remote sensing, the problem of IR small target detection is still an important component part. Concerning infrared dim small target (IRDST) detection, firstly the infrared image is processed with DWT method to get the wavelet coefficients image, but the distribution characteristics, such as scales, frequencies, orientations of wavelet coefficients in different sub-bands are various, so wavelet image denoised by a single threshold criterion can not give a satisfying estimation. Based on this motivation, a spatially adaptive multi-model de-noising strategy (SAMMDS) based IRDST detection method is proposed in this paper, which can adjust thresholding strategy according to the distribution of noise in different scales and directions. Spatially adaptive BayesShrink (SABS) thresholding, traditional BayesShrink (BS) thresholding and generalized cross validation (GCV) thresholding are all adopted here to process each sub-band separately. After reconstructing the denoised wavelet image, a simple global thresholding is used to separate the background and target finally. Experimental results demonstrate that the proposed algorithm performs better than other typical wavelet methods for small target detection with various complex backgrounds.

Small target detection is a critical problem in the Infrared Search And Track (IRST) system. Although it has been studied for years, there are some challenges remained, e.g. cloud edges and horizontal lines are likely to cause false alarms. This paper proposes a novel method using an optimization-based filter to detect infrared small target in heavy clutter. First, we design a certain pixel area as active area. Second, a weighted quadratic cost function is performed in the active area. Finally, a filter based on statistics of active area is derived from the cost function. Our method could preserve heterogeneous area, meanwhile, remove target region. Experimental results show our method achieves satisfied performance in heavy clutter.

Effective detection of small infrared (IR) targets buried in complex backgrounds and heavy noise plays an important role in IR search and track (IRST) systems. In this letter, an IR small target detection method called adaptive scale patch-based contrast measure (ASPCM) is proposed. Compared with existing detection methods based on the human visual system (HVS), our method can estimate the size of the potential target at each location. According to the estimated size, the local contrast between the target and the background is greatly enhanced, and the background clutter can be further suppressed. Experimental results on four real sequences of different complex background demonstrate that the proposed method can detect targets effectively and efficiently, even in the case of complex backgrounds and heavy noises.

Small infrared target detection is one of the key techniques in infrared searching and tracking applications. A novel small target detection method based on the complex filter bank is proposed in this paper. Firstly, a training sample dataset is built and the complex filter bank is utilized to extract the feature representation of each pixel. Then, the support vector machine is used to detect the small target. Finally, a simple adaptive segmentation method is adopted to segment the result image. To evaluate the performance of the proposed method, background clutter suppression and small target detection probability experiments are conducted over real infrared small targets in two image sequences. The experiment results show that the proposed method can not only suppress background clutter effectively, but also detect targets accurately with low false alarm rate.