Motion Filtering For Target Extraction And Tracking In Infrared Images

A critical problem in automatic target recognition is the extraction and tracking of moving targets in high clutter, low resolution, low contrast thermal imagery. This problem is further exacerbated by the large distances that typically exist between the sensor and the targets. In this paper, a new paradigm called motion filtering is presented for exploiting motion to extract and track targets. The main feature of the present approach is the emphasis on the motion information. Experimental results from two sequences of tactical situations are presented to exemplify the capabilities of the proposed approach.