Wavelet analysis based detection algorithm for infrared image small target in background of sea and sky

An automatic target detection algorithm is developed for infrared image small target in complicate background of sea and sky. Wavelet multiresolution edge detection algorithm is adopted to detect the sea-level line from coarse to fine. A strip can be decided accordingly as the potential area where the naval vessel targets in infrared images usually appear. We realized target detection by defining an energy called Mutual Wavelet Energy Combination (MWEC). The detection is completed by marking the position where the energy is assumed the maximum and calculating size of the target by comparing the dissimilarity between a couple of windows. Experiment results indicate that the method can detect and locate small targets precisely in an infrared image with high detection probability