Image Registration and Target Tracking

Automatic detection and tracking of interesting targets from a sequence of images obtained from a reconnaissance platform is an interesting area of research for defense related application. Image registration is the basic step used in tracking application. The paper describes a brief review of some of the image registration algorithms, analyze their performance using a suitable image processing hardware and selects the most suitable algorithm for a real time tracking application. The paper uses cubic spline model and a Kalman filter model for prediction of occluded target. The algorithms developed are implemented in a Ground based Image Exploitation System (GIES) developed at ADE for UAV application and results presented for the images obtained during actual flight trial. .