Neural Network Real Time Video Processor for early aircraft detection

Detecting an aircraft solely by its infrared (IR) signature in real time can be extremely challenging task depending on the image background clutter. Neural networks offer a reliable method of detecting targets (aircraft) against a multitude of background scenes and a variety of environmental conditions. Neural networks can rapidly "learn" to differentiate between background clutter and fast moving, small, "hot" (temperature) targets. A neural network real time video processor (NN-RTVP) presented in this paper was inspired by and a Kohonen neural network (KNN) approach to not only process "still" frames but also process video in real time. Experimental results demonstrated that it is possible to provide real time "point-outs" of thermally significant objects.