RAM-YOLOv8: A multi-fault detection method for photovoltaic module

Abstract

ABSTRACT Given the constraints in fault type identification, localization precision, and detection efficiency inherent in current photovoltaic fault detection methodologies, this paper introduces an innovative detection approach integrating RAM-YOLOv8 with the Swin Transformer. To mitigate the limitations in model extraction capabilities during the detection process and circumvent the vanishing gradient issue encountered during backward information propagation, this study introduces a residual aggregation module as a substitute for the original C2F module, thereby augmenting feature extraction efficiency. Furthermore, within the feature fusion network, the Swin attention mechanism fusion module is designed by integrating the Swin Transformer’s architectural concept to minimize the loss of weak defect information and suppress irrelevant background interference. The model achieves a detection accuracy of 88.5% on the dataset, representing a 7% improvement over the original YOLOv8 algorithm, with a detection rate of 83.33 FPS on an RTX2080 GPU. This method offers a robust and efficient fault detection solution for PV systems, rendering it a practical approach for enhancing system performance and reducing maintenance costs.