IP Library › Granted Patent US 11,585,918
Granted Patent B2
US 11,585,918 · App. 16/742,415 · Granted Feb 21, 2023

Generative adversarial network-based target identification

Inventors: Peter Kim (Irvine, CA); Matthew D. Hollenbeck (Hawthorne, CA); Michael J. Sand (Torrance, CA)
Assignee: Raytheon Company
G01S13/9029G01S13/904G01S13/9011
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,585,918
App. No.
16/742,415
Granted
Feb 21, 2023
Kind
B2
Abstract

A computing machine receives a real synthetic aperture radar (SAR) image including one or more targets. The real SAR image is one of a plurality of real SAR images in a training set. The computing machine generates, for the real SAR image, a model-based target shadow background (TSB) image using a three-dimensional (3D) model of the target. The computing machine generates, for the real SAR image and using an auto-encoder engine, an auto-encoder-generated TSB image using an artificial neural network (ANN). The computing machine computes, using a discriminator engine, an image difference between the auto-encoder-generated TSB image and the model-based TSB image. The computing machine adjusts weights in the auto-encoder engine based on the computed image difference.

Claims (64)

1. A generative adversarial network (GAN) training apparatus comprising:

processing circuitry; and

a memory storing instructions which, when executed by the processing circuitry, cause the processing circuitry to perform operations comprising:

receiving a real synthetic aperture radar (SAR) image including a target, the real SAR image being one of a plurality of real SAR images in a training set;

generating, for the real SAR image, a model-based target shadow background (TSB) image using a three-dimensional (3D) model of the target;

generating, using the real SAR image as input to a neural network (NN) auto-encoder, an auto-encoder-generated TSB image;

computing, using a discriminator engine, an image difference between the auto-encoder-generated TSB image and the model-based TSB image; and

adjusting weights in the auto-encoder based on the computed image difference.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein each TSB image includes respective pixels identifying each pixel as being associated with the target, a shadow or a background.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 , the operations further comprising:

determining that the auto-encoder-generated TSB image and the model-based TSB image are not differentiable; and

determining that the auto-encoder is fully trained based on the auto-encoder-generated TSB image and the model-based TSB image not being differentiable for at least a threshold number of SAR images, including the real SAR image, from the training set.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 , the operations further comprising:

receiving, at the auto-encoder, a new SAR image;

generating, using the auto-encoder, a new TSB image for the new SAR image; and

identifying, using the new TSB image, one or more targets in the new SAR image.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 , wherein:

the auto-encoder comprises an encoder sub-engine, a latent vector, and a decoder sub-engine;

the encoder sub-engine receives the new SAR image and transmits data to the latent vector and to the decoder sub-engine via a skip connection;

the latent vector receives data from the encoder sub-engine and transmits processed data to the decoder sub-engine; and

the decoder sub-engine outputs the generated TSB image for the new SAR image.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the 3D model comprises a voxel model.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein a GAN comprises the auto-encoder and the discriminator engine.

8. A non-transitory machine-readable medium storing instructions which, when executed by processing circuitry of one or more machines, cause the processing circuitry to perform operations comprising:

receiving a real synthetic aperture radar (SAR) image including a target, the real SAR image being one of a plurality of real SAR images in a training set;

generating, for the real SAR image, a model-based target shadow background (TSB) image using a three-dimensional (31)) model of the target;

generating, using the real SAR image as input to a neural network (NN) auto-encoder, an auto-encoder-generated TSB image;

computing, using a discriminator engine, an image difference between the auto-encoder-generated TSB image and the model-based TSB image; and

adjusting weights in the auto-encoder based on the computed image difference.

9. The machine-readable medium of claim 8 , wherein each TSB image includes respective pixels identifying each pixel as being associated with the target, a shadow or a background.

10. The machine-readable medium of claim 8 , the operations further comprising:

determining that the auto-encoder-generated TSB image and the model-based TSB image are not differentiable; and

determining that the auto-encoder is fully trained based on the auto-encoder-generated TSB image and the model-based TSB image not being differentiable for at least a threshold number of SAR images, including the real SAR image, from the training set.

11. The machine-readable medium of claim 8 , the operations further comprising:

receiving, at the auto-encoder, a new SAR image;

generating, using the auto-encoder, a new TSB image for the new SAR image; and

identifying, using the new TSB image, one or more targets in the new SAR image.

12. The machine-readable medium of claim 11 , wherein:

the auto-encoder engine comprises an encoder sub-engine, a latent vector, and a decoder sub-engine;

the encoder sub-engine receives the new SAR image and transmits data to the latent vector and to the decoder sub-engine via a skip connection;

the latent vector receives data from the encoder sub-engine and transmits processed data to the decoder sub-engine; and

the decoder sub-engine outputs the generated TSB image for the new SAR image.

13. The machine-readable medium of claim 8 , wherein the 3D model comprises a voxel model.

14. The machine-readable medium of claim 8 , wherein a generative adversarial network (GAN) comprises the auto-encoder and the discriminator engine.

15. A method, implemented at one or more computing machines, the method comprising:

receiving a real synthetic aperture radar (SAR) image including a target, the real SAR image being one of a plurality of real SAR images in a training set;

generating, for the real SAR image, a model-based target shadow background (TSB) image using a three-dimensional (3D) model of the target;

generating, using the real SAR image and a neural network (NN) auto-encoder, an auto-encoder-generated TSB image;

computing, using a discriminator engine, an image difference between the auto-encoder-generated TSB image and the model-based TSB image; and

adjusting weights in the auto-encoder based on the computed image difference.

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein each TSB image includes pixels identifying each pixel as being associated with the target, a shadow or a background.

17. The method of claim 15 , further comprising:

determining that the auto-encoder-generated TSB image and the model-based TSB image are not differentiable; and

determining that the auto-encoder is fully trained based on the auto-encoder-generated TSB image and the model-based TSB image not being differentiable for at least a threshold number of SAR images, including the real SAR image, from the training set.

18. The method of claim 15 , further comprising:

receiving, at the auto-encoder, a new SAR image;

generating, using the auto-encoder, a new TSB image for the new SAR image; and

identifying, using the new TSB image, one or more targets in the new SAR image.

19. The method of claim 18 , wherein:

the auto-encoder comprises an encoder sub-engine, a latent vector, and a decoder sub-engine;

the encoder sub-engine receives the new SAR image and transmits data to the latent vector and to the decoder sub-engine via a skip connection;

the latent vector receives data from the encoder sub-engine and transmits processed data to the decoder sub-engine; and

the decoder sub-engine outputs the generated TSB image for the new SAR image.

20. The method of claim 15 , wherein the 3D model comprises a voxel model.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 15, 2020
From: KIM, PETER; HOLLENBECK, MATTHEW D.; SAND, MICHAEL J.
To: RAYTHEON COMPANY
Reel/Frame 051521/0511 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20210215818A1 · Jul 15, 2021