Journal Article

A Low-Cost and Lightweight Real-Time Object-Detection Method Based on UAV Remote Sensing in Transportation Systems

Pei, Qingqi, Chen, Chen, Chang, Yoong Choon, Huang, Ziqin, Liu, Lei, Liu, Ziye

2024

Overview

Accurate detection of transportation objects is pivotal for enhancing driving safety and operational efficiency. In the rapidly evolving domain of transportation systems, the utilization of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) for low-altitude detection, leveraging remotely-sensed images and videos, has become increasingly vital. Addressing the growing demands for robust, real-time object-detection capabilities, this study introduces a lightweight, memory-efficient model specifically engineered for the constrained computational and power resources of UAV-embedded platforms. Incorporating the FasterNet-16 backbone, the model significantly enhances feature-processing efficiency, which is essential for real-time applications across diverse UAV operations. A novel multi-scale feature-fusion technique is employed to improve feature utilization while maintaining a compact architecture through passive integration methods. Extensive performance evaluations across various embedded platforms have demonstrated the model’s superior capabilities and robustness in real-time operations, thereby markedly advancing UAV deployment in crucial remote-sensing tasks and improving productivity and safety across multiple domains.

• Publisher: MDPI AG
• Subject: Algorithms / deep learning / Driving ability / Drone aircraft / Efficiency / Image enhancement / Lightweight / lightweight model / Low altitude / object detection / Object recognition / Object recognition (Computers) / Pattern recognition / Performance evaluation / Platforms / Real time operation / Remote sensing / Technology application / Traffic congestion / Traffic flow / Traffic safety / Transportation / Transportation systems / UAVs / Unmanned aerial vehicles / Vehicle safety / Vehicles / Weight reduction