Detection method for small and dim targets from a time series of images observed by a space-based optical detection system

摘要

To revisit cataloged space targets, a space-based optical detection system normally observes space targets continuously in a target tracking mode. In the time series of images produced by continuous observation, there are not only the target but also complicated background clutter (a mass of stars) and noises. The existing method only can detect the target with an signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) greater than 6 from these images. This paper presents a detection method for the target with an SNR less than 6. The proposed method consists of an SNR enhancement algorithm and an adaptive background and noise suppression algorithm. Simulation and analytical results show the proposed method detects the target submerged in noise and background clutter when SNR is equal to 3 and the detection probability and the false alarm probability both reach very high performance. This proposed method can help solve the problem of revisiting some weak cataloged space targets.