Power enhanced extended maximum average correlation height filter for target detection

Extended maximum average correlation height (EMACH) filter is generated from representative training images of expected target, and is designed to keep a balance between distortion tolerance and clutter rejection capability in target detection and tracking. However, in some cases it fails because of blurred target signature, similarity with background and clutter objects, and other distortions. Experimental study indicates that power enhancement of the images can overcome many instances of such failures. In this process, both the training images and test images undergo a power-law transformation, where the pixel intensities are raised to some power before developing the EMACH filter and/or performing the correlation operation. This process, indeed, high-lights the target image signature both in the filter and in the input scene and/or makes prominent difference between the target and other objects/backgrounds. The power enhanced EMACH filter, called PEMACH filter henceforth, has been found to be successful in several target detection problems.