Video-rate image stabilization system

When deploying surveillance systems using electro-optic sensors, data is sometimes collected in demanding weather conditions and surroundings. In many instances, images are subject to distortions and perturbations that can undermine the surveillance capability. A recent field trial with imaging surveillance equipment has shown that the sensor movement induced by the wind resulted in unstable video sequences being displayed on the control station monitor. To improve image stability, a practical and cost-effective image processing technique has been developed at the Defense Research Establishment Valcartier to electronically register image sequences (image stabilization). The technique was implemented on hardware at video rate and is one of the main components of a new image processing station. This paper describes the image processing system and some of the results obtained.