Data decoding of flight recorder tape based on image recognition

Considering the difficult issues of data decoding of flight data recorders using the metal magnetic tape as recording medium which are easily damaged in the flight accident, a novel method for data decoding of magnetic tape based on image recognition is proposed. On the basis of analyzing the statistical characteristic of track images, the coordinates of tracks are identified by using the gray projection and image segmentation algorithm, and the automatic recognition and data decoding of the information on magnetic tape are realized. Application of the proposed method for the data decoding of the track images produced in several flight accident investigations, and achieved good results.