Image processing and fusion to detect navigation obstacles

Kazuo Yamamoto; Kimio Yamada

doi:10.1117/12.327112

17 July 1998 Image processing and fusion to detect navigation obstacles

Kazuo Yamamoto, Kimio Yamada

Proceedings Volume 3374, Signal Processing, Sensor Fusion, and Target Recognition VII; (1998) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.327112
Event: Aerospace/Defense Sensing and Controls, 1998, Orlando, FL, United States

Abstract

Helicopters flying at low altitude in the visual flight rules often crash against obstacles such as a power transmission line. This paper describes the image sensors to detect obstacles and the several image processing techniques to derive and enhance the targets in the images. The images including obstacles were collected both on the ground and by air using an infrared (IR) camera and a color video camera in different backgrounds, distances, and weather conditions. Collected results revealed that IR images have an advantage over color images to detect obstacles in many environments. Several image processing techniques have been evaluated to improve the qualities of collected images. For example, fusion of IR and color images, several filters, such as the Median filter or the adaptive filter have been tested. Information that the target is thin and long, which characterizes the shape of power lines, has been introduced to derive power lines. It has been shown that these processes can greatly reduce the noise and enhance the contrast, no matter how the background is. It has also been demonstrated that there is a good prospect that these processes will help develop the algorithm for automatic obstacle detection and warning.

Citation Download Citation

Kazuo Yamamoto and Kimio Yamada "Image processing and fusion to detect navigation obstacles", Proc. SPIE 3374, Signal Processing, Sensor Fusion, and Target Recognition VII, (17 July 1998); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.327112

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