Small Target Detection Algorithm Research Articles

Small Target Detection Algorithm Based on Improved YOLOv5

Small targets exist in large numbers in various fields. They are broadly used in aerospace, video monitoring, and industrial detection. However, because of its tiny dimensions and modest resolution, the precision of small-target detection is low, and the erroneous detection rate is high. Therefore, based on YOLOv5, an improved small-target detection model is proposed. First, in order to improve the number of tiny targets detected while enhancing small-target detection performance, an additional detection head is added. Second, involution is used between the backbone and neck to increase the channel information of feature mapping. Third, the model introduces the BiFormer, wherein both the global and local feature information are captured simultaneously by means of its double-layer routing attention mechanism. Finally, a context augmentation module (CAM) is inserted into the neck in order to maximize the structure of feature fusion. In addition, in order to consider among the required real frame as well as the prediction frame simultaneously, YOLOv5’s original loss function is exchanged. The experimental results using the public dataset VisDrone2019 show that the proposed model has P increased by 13.43%, R increased by 11.28%, and mAP@.5 and mAP@[.5:.95] increased by 13.88% and 9.01%, respectively.

High-precision and lightweight small-target detection algorithm for low-cost edge intelligence

The proliferation of edge devices driven by advancements in Internet of Things (IoT) technology has intensified the challenge of achieving high-precision small target detection, as it demands extensive computational resources. This amplifies the conflict between the need for precise detection and the requirement for cost-efficiency across numerous edge devices. To solve this problem, this paper introduces an enhanced target detection algorithm, MSGD-YOLO, built upon YOLOv8. The Faster Implementation of CSP Bottleneck with 2 convolutions (C2f) module is enhanced through the integration of the Ghost module and dynamic convolution, resulting in a more lightweight architecture while enhancing feature generation. Additionally, Spatial Pyramid Pooling with Enhanced Local Attention Network (SPPELAN) replaces Spatial Pyramid Pooling Fast (SPPF) to expand the receptive field, optimizing multi-level feature aggregation for improved performance. Furthermore, a novel Multi-Scale Ghost Convolution (MSGConv) and Multi-Scale Generalized Feature Pyramid Network (MSGPFN) are introduced to enhance feature fusion and integrate multi-scale information. Finally, four optimized dynamic convolutional detection heads are employed to capture target features more accurately and improve small target detection precision. Evaluation on the VisDrone2019 dataset shows that compared with YOLOv8-n, MSGD-YOLO improves mAP@50 and mAP@50–95 by 14.1% and 11.2%, respectively. In addition, the model not only achieves a 16.1% reduction in parameters but also attains a processing speed of 24.6 Frames Per Second (FPS) on embedded devices, thereby fulfilling real-time detection requirements.

SPCF-YOLO: Dense Small Target Detection Algorithm for Autonomous Driving

Abstract In the automatic driving scene, the pedestrian and vehicle targets are dense and block each other, and the problem of target false detection and missing detection is easy to occur. In this paper, a dense small target detection algorithm SPCF-YOLO is proposed. A new SPCSA module has been designed to strengthen the capture of edge features in occluded small targets. MPDIoU replaces the original CIOU loss function to address cases where the predicted and real frames have the same aspect ratio, but the aspect ratio difference of anchor frame is large. Experimental results show that in KITTI 2D data set, compared with the original YOLOv7 algorithm, mAP@0.5 is 93.5%, an increase of 0.5%. mAP@0.5:0.95 is 66.9%, an increase of 2%; micro-target mAP@0.5:0.95 is 50.3%, an increase of 2.6%; and the computational load and parameter number remain basically unchanged, which proves the effectiveness of the design algorithm.

M-YOLOv8s: An improved small target detection algorithm for UAV aerial photography

The object of UAV target detection usually means small target with complicated backgrounds. In this paper, an object detection model M-YOLOv8s based on UAV aerial photography scene is proposed. Firstly, to solve the problem that the YOLOv8s model cannot adapt to small target detection, a small target detection head (STDH) module is introduced to fuse the location and appearance feature information of the shallow layers of the backbone network. Secondly, Inner-Wise intersection over union (Inner-WIoU) is designed as the boundary box regression loss, and auxiliary boundary calculation is used to accelerate the regression speed of the model. Thirdly, the structure of multi-scale feature pyramid network (MS-FPN) can effectively combine the shallow network information with the deep network information and improve the performance of the detection model. Furthermore, a multi-scale cross-spatial attention (MCSA) module is proposed to expand the feature space through multi-scale branch, and then achieves the aggregation of target features through cross-spatial interaction, which improves the ability of the model to extract target features. Finally, the experimental results show that our model does not only possess fewer parameters, but also the values of mAP0.5 are 6.6% and 5.4% higher than the baseline model on the Visdrone2019 validation dataset and test dataset, respectively. Then, as a conclusion, the M-YOLOv8s model achieves better detection performance than some existing ones, indicating that our proposed method can be more suitable for detecting the small targets.

Lightweight Substation Equipment Defect Detection Algorithm for Small Targets.

Substation equipment defect detection has always played an important role in equipment operation and maintenance. However, the task scenarios of substation equipment defect detection are complex and different. Recent studies have revealed issues such as a significant missed detection rate for small-sized targets and diminished detection precision. At the same time, the current mainstream detection algorithms are highly complex, which is not conducive to deployment on resource-constrained devices. In view of the above problems, a small target and lightweight substation main scene equipment defect detection algorithm is proposed: Efficient Attentional Lightweight-YOLO (EAL-YOLO), which detection accuracy exceeds the current mainstream model, and the number of parameters and floating point operations (FLOPs) are also advantageous. Firstly, the EfficientFormerV2 is used to optimize the model backbone, and the Large Separable Kernel Attention (LSKA) mechanism has been incorporated into the Spatial Pyramid Pooling Fast (SPPF) to enhance the model's feature extraction capabilities; secondly, a small target neck network Attentional scale Sequence Fusion P2-Neck (ASF2-Neck) is proposed to enhance the model's ability to detect small target defects; finally, in order to facilitate deployment on resource-constrained devices, a lightweight shared convolution detection head module Lightweight Shared Convolutional Head (LSCHead) is proposed. Experiments show that compared with YOLOv8n, EAL-YOLO has improved its accuracy by 2.93 percentage points, and the mAP50 of 12 types of typical equipment defects has reached 92.26%. Concurrently, the quantity of FLOPs and parameters has diminished by 46.5% and 61.17% respectively, in comparison with YOLOv8s, meeting the needs of substation defect detection.

Infrared Weak and Small Target Detection Algorithm Based on Deep Learning

Abstract In the infrared imaging scene where the target is at a long distance and the background is cluttered, due to the interference of noise and background texture information, the infrared image is prone to problems such as low contrast between the target and the background, and feature confusion, which makes it difficult to accurately extract and detect the target. To solve this problem, firstly, the infrared image is enhanced by combining DDE and MSR algorithm to improve the contrast and detail visibility of the image. For the RT-DETR network structure, the EMA attention mechanism is introduced into the backbone to enhance the feature extraction ability of the model by extracting context information. The CAMixing convolutional attention module is introduced into CCFM, and the multi-scale convolutional self-attention mechanism is introduced to focus on local information and enhance the detection ability of small targets. The filtering rules of the prediction box are improved, combined with Shape-IoU, and the convergence speed of the loss function in the detection and the detection accuracy of small targets are improved by paying attention to the influence of the intrinsic properties of the bounding box itself on the regression. In the experiment, the infrared weak target image dataset of the National University of Defense Technology was selected, labeled and trained. Experimental results show that compared with the original DETR algorithm, the average precision of the improved algorithm (mAP) is increased by 3.2%, and it can effectively detect infrared weak and small targets in different complex backgrounds, which reflects good robustness and adaptability, and can be effectively applied to infrared weak and small target detection in complex backgrounds.

Multiclass small target detection algorithm for surface defects of chemicals special steel

Multiclass small target detection algorithm for surface defects of chemicals special steel

An Improved U-Net Infrared Small Target Detection Algorithm Based on Multi-Scale Feature Decomposition and Fusion and Attention Mechanism.

Infrared small target detection technology plays a crucial role in various fields such as military reconnaissance, power patrol, medical diagnosis, and security. The advancement of deep learning has led to the success of convolutional neural networks in target segmentation. However, due to challenges like small target scales, weak signals, and strong background interference in infrared images, convolutional neural networks often face issues like leakage and misdetection in small target segmentation tasks. To address this, an enhanced U-Net method called MST-UNet is proposed, the method combines multi-scale feature decomposition and fusion and attention mechanisms. The method involves using Haar wavelet transform instead of maximum pooling for downsampling in the encoder to minimize feature loss and enhance feature utilization. Additionally, a multi-scale residual unit is introduced to extract contextual information at different scales, improving sensory field and feature expression. The inclusion of a triple attention mechanism in the encoder structure further enhances multidimensional information utilization and feature recovery by the decoder. Experimental analysis on the NUDT-SIRST dataset demonstrates that the proposed method significantly improves target contour accuracy and segmentation precision, achieving IoU and nIoU values of 80.09% and 80.19%, respectively.

Dual-Structure Elements Morphological Filtering and Local Z-Score Normalization for Infrared Small Target Detection against Heavy Clouds

Infrared (IR) small target detection in sky scenes is crucial for aerospace, border security, and atmospheric monitoring. Most current works are typically designed for generalized IR scenes, which may not be optimal for the specific scenario of sky backgrounds, particularly for detecting small and dim targets at long ranges. In these scenarios, the presence of heavy clouds usually causes significant false alarms due to factors such as strong edges, streaks, large undulations, and isolated floating clouds. To address these challenges, we propose an infrared dim and small target detection algorithm based on morphological filtering with dual-structure elements. First, we design directional dual-structure element morphological filters, which enhance the grayscale difference between the target and the background in various directions, thus highlighting the region of interest. The grayscale difference is then normalized in each direction to mitigate the interference of false alarms in complex cloud backgrounds. Second, we employ a dynamic scale awareness strategy, effectively preventing the loss of small targets near cloud edges. We enhance the target features by multiplying and fusing the local response values in all directions, which is followed by threshold segmentation to achieve target detection results. Experimental results demonstrate that our method achieves strong detection performance across various complex cloud backgrounds. Notably, it outperforms other state-of-the-art methods in detecting targets with a low signal-to-clutter ratio (MSCR ≤ 2). Furthermore, the algorithm does not rely on specific parameter settings and is suitable for parallel processing in real-time systems.

Infrared Multi-Scale Small-Target Detection Algorithm Based on Feature Pyramid Network

Infrared Multi-Scale Small-Target Detection Algorithm Based on Feature Pyramid Network

A lightweight fire detection algorithm for small targets based on YOLOv5s

In response to the current challenges fire detection algorithms encounter, including low detection accuracy and limited recognition rates for small fire targets in complex environments, we present a lightweight fire detection algorithm based on an improved YOLOv5s. The introduction of the CoT (Contextual Transformer) structure into the backbone neural network, along with the creation of the novel CSP1_CoT (Cross stage partial 1_contextual transformer) module, has effectively reduced the model’s parameter count while simultaneously enhancing the feature extraction and fusion capabilities of the backbone network; The network’s Neck architecture has been extended by introducing a dedicated detection layer tailored for small targets and incorporating the SE (Squeeze-and-Excitation) attention mechanism. This augmentation, while minimizing parameter proliferation, has significantly bolstered the interaction of multi-feature information, resulting in an enhanced small target detection capability; The substitution of the original loss function with the Focal-EIoU (Focal-Efficient IoU) loss function has yielded a further improvement in the model’s convergence speed and precision; The experimental results indicate that the modified model achieves an mAP@.5 of 96% and an accuracy of 94.8%, marking improvements of 8.8% and 8.9%, respectively, over the original model. Furthermore, the model’s parameter count has been reduced by 1.1%, resulting in a compact model size of only 14.6MB. Additionally, the detection speed has reached 85 FPS (Frames Per Second), thus satisfying real-time detection requirements. This enhancement in precision and accuracy, while simultaneously meeting real-time and lightweight constraints, effectively caters to the demands of fire detection.

PHSI-RTDETR: A Lightweight Infrared Small Target Detection Algorithm Based on UAV Aerial Photography

To address the issues of low model accuracy caused by complex ground environments and uneven target scales and high computational complexity in unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) aerial infrared image target detection, this study proposes a lightweight UAV aerial infrared small target detection algorithm called PHSI-RTDETR. Initially, an improved backbone feature extraction network is designed using the lightweight RPConv-Block module proposed in this paper, which effectively captures small target features, significantly reducing the model complexity and computational burden while improving accuracy. Subsequently, the HiLo attention mechanism is combined with an intra-scale feature interaction module to form an AIFI-HiLo module, which is integrated into a hybrid encoder to enhance the focus of the model on dense targets, reducing the rates of missed and false detections. Moreover, the slimneck-SSFF architecture is introduced as the cross-scale feature fusion architecture of the model, utilizing GSConv and VoVGSCSP modules to enhance adaptability to infrared targets of various scales, producing more semantic information while reducing network computations. Finally, the original GIoU loss is replaced with the Inner-GIoU loss, which uses a scaling factor to control auxiliary bounding boxes to speed up convergence and improve detection accuracy for small targets. The experimental results show that, compared to RT-DETR, PHSI-RTDETR reduces model parameters by 30.55% and floating-point operations by 17.10%. Moreover, detection precision and speed are increased by 3.81% and 13.39%, respectively, and mAP50, impressively, reaches 82.58%, demonstrating the great potential of this model for drone infrared small target detection.

Infrared small target detection algorithm based on filter kernel combination optimization learning method

Infrared small target detection in complex backgrounds remains a big challenge due to its small size and weak energy, which makes it easy to be submerged in complex backgrounds. Common filtering algorithms are difficult to apply to various complex scenes and generate many false alarms and poor robustness. Therefore, this paper proposes an infrared small target detection algorithm based on filter kernel combination optimization learning method. For the sample image block use typical filter kernels and weight coefficients to calculate the combination of filtering results, and construct the loss function of the results and the true value. The optimal weight coefficients are learned using an optimization method, which effectively achieves the fusion of multiple features, then we build a sample library containing comprehensive priori information. In the implementation, an online inference method based on similarity measure is proposed to match test images with sample library image blocks to obtain optimal combination weights. By utilizing the comprehensive priori information to enhance the adaptive ability of the algorithm for various complex backgrounds. Finally, get the position of the infrared small target. The experimental results show that our algorithm has excellent detection performance for infrared small targets with complex background and low signal to clutter ratio, and the AUC value is 0.9980, which is more robust than other comparative algorithms.

A More Efficient Algorithm for Small Target Detection in Unmanned Aerial Vehicles

Due to the relatively high shooting altitude of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV), the captured images often contain a multitude of small‐scale targets. To solve the problems of small target scale, lack of semantic information, and high miss detection in drone target detection, in this paper we proposed a more effective unmanned aerial vehicle small target detection algorithm(MEU‐YOLOv5) based on YOLOv5s. Firstly, an efficient global contextual module is proposed to enhance the algorithm's performance in feature extraction while reducing the excessive loss of shallow features. Secondly, a small‐scale target detector is added to enhance the algorithm's detection capability for smaller targets. Lastly, a recursive multi‐level feature fusion path is introduced to better fuse the shallow and deep features of the images, reducing overfitting and improving the algorithm's generalizability and robustness. Experimental results demonstrated that compared to YOLOv5s, MEU‐YOLOv5 achieves a 7.4% improvement in mAP@0.5 and a 4.9% improvement in mAP@0.5:0.95. Additionally, the overall performance of this algorithm surpassed various algorithms in the YOLO series, including YOLOv3, YOLOv5l, YOLOv5m, and YOLOv8s. © 2024 Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan. Published by Wiley Periodicals LLC.

Fine-Grained Feature Perception for Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Target Detection Algorithm

Unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) aerial images often present challenges such as small target sizes, high target density, varied shooting angles, and dynamic poses. Existing target detection algorithms exhibit a noticeable performance decline when confronted with UAV aerial images compared to general scenes. This paper proposes an outstanding small target detection algorithm for UAVs, named Fine-Grained Feature Perception YOLOv8s-P2 (FGFP-YOLOv8s-P2), based on YOLOv8s-P2 architecture. We specialize in improving inspection accuracy while meeting real-time inspection requirements. First, we enhance the targets’ pixel information by utilizing slice-assisted training and inference techniques, thereby reducing missed detections. Then, we propose a feature extraction module with deformable convolutions. Decoupling the learning process of offset and modulation scalar enables better adaptation to variations in the size and shape of diverse targets. In addition, we introduce a large kernel spatial pyramid pooling module. By cascading convolutions, we leverage the advantages of large kernels to flexibly adjust the model’s attention to various regions of high-level feature maps, better adapting to complex visual scenes and circumventing the cost drawbacks associated with large kernels. To match the excellent real-time detection performance of the baseline model, we propose an improved Random FasterNet Block. This block introduces randomness during convolution and captures spatial features of non-linear transformation channels, enriching feature representations and enhancing model efficiency. Extensive experiments and comprehensive evaluations on the VisDrone2019 and DOTA-v1.0 datasets demonstrate the effectiveness of FGFP-YOLOv8s-P2. This achievement provides robust technical support for efficient small target detection by UAVs in complex scenarios.

A small target detection algorithm based on improved YOLOv5 in aerial image.

Uncrewed aerial vehicle (UAV) aerial photography technology is widely used in both industrial and military sectors, but remote sensing for small target detection still faces several challenges. Firstly, the small size of targets increases the difficulty of detection and recognition. Secondly, complex aerial environmental conditions, such as lighting changes and background noise, significantly affect the quality of detection. Rapid and accurate identification of target categories is also a key issue, requiring improvements in detection speed and accuracy. This study proposes an improved remote sensing target detection algorithm based on the YOLOv5 architecture. In the YOLOv5s model, the Distribution Focal Loss function is introduced to accelerate the convergence speed of the network and enhance the network's focus on annotated data. Simultaneously, adjustments are made to the Cross Stage Partial (CSP) network structure, modifying the convolution kernel size, adding a new stack-separated convolution module, and designing a new attention mechanism to achieve effective feature fusion between different hierarchical structure feature maps. Experimental results demonstrate a significant performance improvement of the proposed algorithm on the RSOD dataset, with a 3.5% increase in detection accuracy compared to the original algorithm. These findings indicate that our algorithm effectively enhances the precision of remote sensing target detection and holds potential application prospects.

Research on Methods of Micro-target Detection in Various Application Scenarios

This paper provides a comprehensive introduction and comparison of the research on small target detection algorithms in different application scenarios and systematically explores the application of deep learning algorithms for small target detection in remote sensing imagery, visible imagery, and infrared imagery. In remote sensing images, the Deconvolution R-CNN algorithm is used to improve the accuracy of small target detection by adding a deconvolution layer. In the field of visible images, a Gaussian Mixture Model (GMM)-based approach is introduced to achieve fast detection of small targets with SIFT features and a GMM target detector. In infrared images, a comprehensive algorithm adapted to low signal-to-noise ratio and complex background is proposed to automatically detect tiny targets through background suppression and threshold selection optimization. In this paper, we compare and analyze the performance of these methods in different scenarios, and propose directions for future research, including expanding the training dataset, applying super-resolution methods to improve the image resolution, and enhancing the universality of the algorithms. This paper provides a comprehensive overview of research in the field of small target detection, as well as an outlook on future research directions, which provides a useful reference for the further development of the field.

Infrared small target detection based on variance difference weighted three-layer local contrast measure

Infrared (IR) small target detection technology is of paramount importance in the infrared search and track (IRST) system. The current methods typically exhibit strong performance in simple backgrounds, but they struggle to effectively suppress high-brightness background and strong noise. For the sake of diminish the false alarm rate of infrared small target detection algorithms under strong clutter interference, an infrared small target detection algorithm based on variance difference weighted three-layer local contrast measure (VDWTLCM) is proposed in this paper. The algorithm comprises two modules: the three-layer local contrast measure (TLCM) and the weighting function based on mean value of the variance difference (MVD). In the calculation module of TLCM, the image is processed pixel by pixel using a three-layer sliding window, while both the ratio form definition and the difference form definition are utilized to calculate the local contrast for each pixel, which can enhance the target and eliminate the high-brightness background. To calculate the MVD weighting function, a modified layered gradient kernel is first introduced to pre-process the IR image, aimed at achieving more effective clutter smoothing. And then the concept of variance difference is employed to further suppress the highlighted background edges. Ultimately, the target is extracted utilizing adaptive threshold segmentation. The experimental results demonstrate that, compared with the common infrared small target detection algorithms, the proposed algorithm improves the signal to clutter ratio gain (SCRG) by an average of 13.13 times and the background suppression factor (BSF) by an average of 10.02 times, and can achieve superior detection performance in different complex scenarios.

YOLOv8-MPEB small target detection algorithm based on UAV images

Target detection in Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) aerial images has gained significance within UAV application scenarios. However, UAV aerial images present challenges, including large-scale changes, small target sizes, complex scenes, and variable external factors, resulting in missed or false detections. This study proposes an algorithm for small target detection in UAV images based on an enhanced YOLOv8 model termed YOLOv8-MPEB. Firstly, the Cross Stage Partial Darknet53 (CSPDarknet53) backbone network is substituted with the lightweight MobileNetV3 backbone network, consequently reducing model parameters and computational complexity, while also enhancing inference speed. Secondly, a dedicated small target detection layer is intricately designed to optimize feature extraction for multi-scale targets. Thirdly, the integration of the Efficient Multi-Scale Attention (EMA) mechanism within the Convolution to Feature (C2f) module aims to enhance the extraction of vital features and suppress superfluous ones. Lastly, the utilization of a bidirectional feature pyramid network (BiFPN) in the Neck segment serves to ameliorate detection errors stemming from scale variations and complex scenes, thereby augmenting model generalization. The study provides a thorough examination by conducting ablation experiments and comparing the results with alternative algorithms to substantiate the enhanced effectiveness of the proposed algorithm, with a particular focus on detection performance. The experimental outcomes illustrate that with a parameter count of 7.39 M and a model size of 14.5 MB, the algorithm attains a mean Average Precision (mAP) of 91.9 % on the custom-made helmet and reflective clothing dataset. In comparison to standard YOLOv8 models, this algorithm elevates average accuracy by 2.2 percentage points, reduces model parameters by 34 %, and diminishes model size by 32 %. It outperforms other prevalent detection algorithms in terms of accuracy and speed.

Underwater Rescue Target Detection Based on Acoustic Images.

In order to effectively respond to floods and water emergencies that result in the drowning of missing persons, timely and effective search and rescue is a very critical step in underwater rescue. Due to the complex underwater environment and low visibility, unmanned underwater vehicles (UUVs) with sonar are more efficient than traditional manual search and rescue methods to conduct active searches using deep learning algorithms. In this paper, we constructed a sound-based rescue target dataset that encompasses both the source and target domains using deep transfer learning techniques. For the underwater acoustic rescue target detection of small targets, which lack image feature accuracy, this paper proposes a two-branch convolution module and improves the YOLOv5s algorithm model to design an acoustic rescue small target detection algorithm model. For an underwater rescue target dataset based on acoustic images with a small sample acoustic dataset, a direct fine-tuning using optical image pre-training lacks cross-domain adaptability due to the different statistical properties of optical and acoustic images. This paper therefore proposes a heterogeneous information hierarchical migration learning method. For the false detection of acoustic rescue targets in a complex underwater background, the network layer is frozen during the hierarchical migration of heterogeneous information to improve the detection accuracy. In addition, in order to be more applicable to the embedded devices carried by underwater UAVs, an underwater acoustic rescue target detection algorithm based on ShuffleNetv2 is proposed to improve the two-branch convolutional module and the backbone network of YOLOv5s algorithm, and to create a lightweight model based on hierarchical migration of heterogeneous information. Through extensive comparative experiments conducted on various acoustic images, we have thoroughly validated the feasibility and effectiveness of our method. Our approach has demonstrated state-of-the-art performance in underwater search and rescue target detection tasks.