Abstract:
In this paper, we present a new approach for tracking a moving target in forwardlooking
infrared (FLIR) imagery taken from an anti-tank moving platform. First, the
target image is captured in a frame with resolution 128´128 pixels by using IR camera,
and then the image is enhanced by using a non uniformity correction algorithm to
reduce the main dominant noises associated with infrared images. Second, the existing
moving target is detected with time (􀄲) within the image by using 2-D Gabor filter
kernels. Next, Gabor filter with 4 orientations applying on the window created with
resolution 32´32 pixels around the predicted target center using Kalman filter estimator.
Subtraction process is performed between the predicted center using Kalman filter
estimator and the center of the detected target using Gabor filter, which is used to
predict the next center by using Kalman filter, and to guide the detection of the target
location in the tracking window of the next frame respectively. The proposed technique
fasts and reduces the detection time into 1/16 of 􀄲 with high performance of tracking.
The experiments performed on several real image data of an existing infrared imaging
system. Results show the robustness of the proposed method, which combines high
speed of detection and good performance of tracking even with strong ego-motion.