Feeble object detection of underwater images through LSR with delay loop.

Abstract

Feeble object detection is a long-standing problem in vision based underwater exploration work. However, because of the complicated light propagation situation and high background noise, underwater images are highly degraded. Noise is not always detrimental. Logical stochastic resonance (LSR) can be a useful tool for amplifying feeble signals by utilizing the constructive interplay of noise and a nonlinear system. In the present study, an appropriate LSR structure with a delay loop is proposed to process a low-quality underwater image for enhancing the vision detection accuracy of underwater feeble objects. Ocean experiments are conducted to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed structure. We also give explicit numerical results to illustrate the relationship between the structure of LSR and the correct detection probability. Methods presented in this paper are quite general and can thus be potentially extended to other applications for obtaining better performance.