SAR and FLIR image registration method

Abstract

There is disclosed herein, a method used to associate or correspond synthetic aperture radar (SAR) and forward looking infrared (FLIR) images. Based on feature points detectable from both images, a two stage approach is taken to address the issue of SAR and FLIR image registration: an initial registration stage where feature points detected from the FLIR image are transformed into the SAR image coordinates; and a residual registration stage where the SAR and FLIR feature points undergo a “Generalized Hough Transform” from which a maximal subset of matching feature points is obtained and the registration transformation can be derived. These two stages are separated into five steps which comprise the SAR and FLIR Image Registration Method: (1) extracting feature points from said SAR and FLIR images; (2) creating an initial registration of the FLIR image; (3) creating a two-dimensional residual registration utilizing a generalized Hough transform; (4) estimating the registration transformation; and, (5) verifying the registration. This method allows the residual registration to be done in a two-dimensional (rather than six) Hough transform, which results in fast and robust implementation as well as reduce the possibility of false registration.

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