Ship detection system and method from overhead images
US8116522B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Aug 25, 2008 |
| Grant date | Feb 14, 2012 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 15, 2030 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG06V10/431
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
Methods for automatic detection of ships in overhead images of bodies of water are disclosed. The image is initially analyzed to determine if land is present, and the portions of the overhead image where land is present are masked and not processed further. The methods include the steps of chipping the unmasked portions of the overhead image into a series of tiles, discriminating and removing clouds from the tiles using two-dimensional Fourier transforms, and characterizing tile background noise from the water's surface. Different ship detection algorithms are used, according to the level of background noise detected. Detected ships are output into a format that is easily interpreted by the user. The formatted output can also include a confidence rating, or a calculation of the certainty that the detected object in an output file is actually a ship.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.