Decoding the Hidden: Direct Image Classification Using Coded Aperture Imaging

Coded aperture imaging has emerged as a solution to enhance light sensitivity and enable imaging in challenging conditions. However, the computational expense of image reconstruction poses limitations in processing efficiency. To address this, we propose a direct classification method using convolutional neural networks. By leveraging raw coded measurements, our approach eliminates the need for explicit image reconstruction, reducing computational overhead. We evaluate the effectiveness of this approach compared to traditional methods on the MNIST and CIFAR10 datasets. Our results demonstrate that direct image classification using raw coded measurements achieves comparable performance to traditional methods while reducing computational overhead and enabling real-time processing. These findings highlight the potential of machine learning in enhancing the decoding process and improving the overall performance of coded aperture imaging systems.