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Acta Aeronautica et Astronautica Sinica ›› 2025, Vol. 46 ›› Issue (3): 30848.doi: 10.7527/S1000-6893.2024.30848

• Reviews • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Research advances on deep learning-based small object detection in UAV aerial images

Yiquan WU(), Kang TONG   

  1. College of Electronic and Information Engineering,Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics,Nanjing 211106,China
  • Received:2024-06-20 Revised:2024-08-16 Accepted:2024-09-07 Online:2024-09-24 Published:2024-09-20
  • Contact: Yiquan WU E-mail:nuaaimage@163.com
  • Supported by:
    National Natural Science Foundation of China(61573183)

Abstract:

Small object detection in UAV aerial images based on deep learning has a wide range of applications in military intelligence reconnaissance, battlefield surveillance and assessment, military object capture and verification, intelligent traffic management, infrastructure inspection and maintenance, disaster prevention and control, search and rescue, crop management and analysis, ecological protection and monitoring and other fields, and has become a current research hotspot in recent years. This review article gives a comprehensive and in-depth investigation on small object detection in UAV aerial images based on deep learning in the past five years. First of all, the definition and challenges of small object detection in UAV aerial images are introduced. Secondly, small object detection methods in drone aerial images are summarized in terms of discriminative feature learning, super-resolution technology, real-time lightweight detection, and other improvement ideas. Then, small object detection datasets of UAV aerial images are systematically summarized, and the performances of different algorithms are analyzed based on the VisDrone Challenge. Finally, the specific applications of small object detection in UAV aerial images in the military and civilian fields are comprehensively presented, and the potential future development directions of small object detection in UAV aerial images and some concerns about UAV aerial photography are also discussed. It is expected that this review would inspire relevant researchers to further promote the development of small object detection in UAV aerial images based on deep learning.

Key words: small object detection, Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV), aerial image, deep learning, performance evaluation, small object detection application

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