Machine learning based target localization for autonomous unmanned vehicles

A computer-implemented method, comprising:

• applying, to a first image captured by an apparatus, a first machine learning model trained to determine whether a target object is visible in one or more portions of the first image, the first image depicting a first region of a search area, and the one or more portions of the first image corresponding to a first plurality of sub-regions within the first region of the search area;
• in response to the target object being absent from the first image of the first region of the search area, applying a second machine learning model trained to identify, based at least on an output of the first machine learning model indicating the target object as being visible and/or nonvisible in the one or more portions of the first image, a second region of the search area corresponding to one of the first plurality of sub-regions within the first region of the search area having a highest probability of including the target object;
• and
• sending, to the apparatus, a command navigating the apparatus to the second region of the search area in order to capture a second image of the second region of the search area.

A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions, which when executed by at least one data processor, result in operations comprising:

• applying, to a first image captured by an apparatus, a first machine learning model trained to determine whether a target object is visible in one or more portions of the first image, the first image depicting a first region of a search area, and the one or more portions of the first image corresponding to a first plurality of sub-regions within the first region of the search area;
• in response to the target object being absent from the first image of the first region of the search area, applying a second machine learning model trained to identify, based at least on an output of the first machine learning model indicating the target object as being visible and/or nonvisible in the one or more portions of the first image, a second region of the search area corresponding to one of the first plurality of sub-regions within the first region of the search area having a highest probability of including the target object;
• and
• sending, to the apparatus, a command navigating the apparatus to the second region of the search area in order to capture a second image of the second region of the search area.