Small Target Detection Algorithm Based on Transfer Learning and Deep Separable Network

With the development of deep learning, target detection from vision sensor has achieved high accuracy and efficiency. However, small target detection remains a challenge due to inadequate use of semantic information and detailed texture information of underlying features. To solve the above problems, this paper proposes a small target detection algorithm based on Mask R-CNN model which integrates transfer learning and deep separable network. Firstly, the feature pyramid fusion structure is introduced to enhance the learning effect of low-level and high-level features, especially to strengthen the information channel of low-level feature and meanwhile optimize the feature information of small target. Secondly, the ELU function is used as the activation function to solve the problem that the original activation function disappears in the negative half axis gradient. Finally, a new loss function F-Softmax combined with Focal Loss was adopted to solve the imbalance of positive and negative sample proportions. In this paper, self-made data set is used to carry out experiments, and the experimental results show that the proposed algorithm makes the detection accuracy of small targets reach 66.5%.