ClassiGAN: Joint Image Reconstruction and Classification in Computational Microwave Imaging

Computational imaging (CI)-based systems have emerged as a viable alternative to address the challenges of high hardware complexity and slow data acquisition speed associated with conventional microwave imaging. However, CI-based systems are limited by a substantial computational burden during the scene reconstruction process. In particular, image reconstruction and target classification problems for CI systems are computationally complex tasks. To tackle this challenge, a generative deep learning model named ClassiGAN is proposed to jointly solve the image reconstruction and target classification tasks by only using the backscattered measured signals as input. In particular, an adaptive loss function is employed to effectively integrate the respective loss functions for the two tasks, thereby enhancing training efficiency. This adaptive loss function dynamically adjusts the weights of the losses associated with each task, facilitating a more effective integration of the differing loss functions. Notably, ClassiGAN significantly reduces the run time for image reconstruction tasks compared to conventional CI methods. Compared to other state-of-the-art methods, ClassiGAN not only achieves lower average normalized mean squared error (NMSE) and higher structural similarity (SSIM) but also provides a higher accuracy in recognizing imaging targets. Extensive experimental tests further validate ClassiGAN’s capability to simultaneously reconstruct and recognize the imaging target within practical settings. Hence, this shows that ClassiGAN can enhance the overall efficiency of CI-based systems at microwave frequencies by addressing challenges related to computational load during run time.