<title>Adaptive-filter/feature-orthogonalization processing string for optimal LLRT mine classfication in side-scan sonar imagery</title>

Abstract

An automatic, robust, adaptive clutter suppression, mine detection and classification processing string has been developed and applied to side-scan sonar imagery data. The overall processing string includes data pre-processing, adaptive clutter filtering (ACF), 2D normalization, detection, feature extraction, and classification processing blocks. The data pre-processing block contains automatic gain control and data decimation processing. The ACF technique designs a 2D adaptive range-crossrange linear FIR filter which is optimal in the Least Squares sense, simultaneously suppressing the background clutter while preserving an average peak target signature (normalized shape) computed a priori using training set data. A multiple reference ACF algorithm version was utilized to account for multiple target shapes (due to different mine types, multiple target aspect angles, etc.). The detection block consists of thresholding, clustering of exceedances and limiting their number, and a secondary thresholding process. Following feature extraction, the classification block applies a novel transformation to the data, which orthogonalizes the features and enables an efficient application of the optimal log-likelihood-ratio-test (LLRT) classification rule. The utility of the overall processing string was demonstrated with two side-scan sonar data sets. The ACF/feature orthogonalization based LLRT mine classification processing string provided average probability of correct mine classification and false alarm rate performance similar to that obtained when utilizing an expert sonar operator.