FPGA based implementation of real-time image enhancement algorithms for Electro-Optical surveillance systems

Electro-Optical (EO) surveillance systems are capable of performing autonomous search, detection, tracking and designation of potential targets. The detection and tracking of target at long range is a challenge due to atmospheric degradation and background clutter. The detection process heavily depends on its image quality. Various types of image enhancement techniques are being exploited to improve the detection capability. The performance of these techniques varies with operational scenario as the surveillance is a very subjective process by nature. Reconfigurable architecture based upon FPGA has been chosen to implement real-time image enhancement, for improved range performance (detection/recognition/identification) of EO systems considering the scenarios such as naval and land platforms. The architectural design based on FPGA and real time implementation results for these image processing algorithms along with improvement in the quality of image has been presented.