Low-Rank Plus Sparse Decomposition and Localized Radon Transform for Ship-Wake Detection in Synthetic Aperture Radar Images

The problem in obtaining stable motion estimation of maritime targets is that sea clutter makes wake structure detection and reconnaissance difficult. This letter presents a complete procedure for the automatic estimation of maritime target motion parameters by evaluating the generated Kelvin waves detected in synthetic aperture radar (SAR) images. The algorithm consists in evaluating a dual-stage low-rank plus sparse decomposition (LRSD) assisted by Radon transform (RT) for clutter reduction, sparse object detection, precise wake inclination estimation, and Kelvin wave spectral analysis. The algorithm is based on the robust principal component analysis (RPCA) implemented by convex programming. The LRSD algorithm permits the extrapolation of sparse objects of interest consisting of the maritime targets and the Kelvin pattern from the unchanging low-rank background. This dual-stage RPCA and RT applied to SAR surveillance permits fast detection and enhanced motion parameter estimation of maritime targets.