• 대한원격탐사학회지
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• 제29권6호
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• pp.601-610
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• 2013

As a standard water clarity variable, the vertical underwater visibility, called Secchi depth, is estimated with ocean color satellite data. In the present study, Moderate Resolvtion Imaging Spectradiometer (MODIS) data are used to measure the Secchi depth which is a useful indicator of ocean transparency for estimating the water quality and productivity. To estimate the Secchi depth $Z_v$, the empirical regression model is developed based on the satellite optical data and in-situ data. In the previous study, a semi-analytical algorithm for estimating $Z_v$ was developed and validated for Case 1 and 2 waters in both coastal and oceanic waters using extensive sets of satellite and in-situ data. The algorithm uses the vertical diffuse attenuation coefficient, $K_d$($m^{-1}$) and the beam attenuation coefficient, c($m^{-1}$) obtained from satellite ocean color data to estimate $Z_v$. In this study, the semi-analytical algorithm is validated using temporal MODIS data and in-situ data over the Yellow, Southern and East Seas including Case 1 and 2 waters. Using total 156 matching data, MODIS $Z_v$ data showed about 3.6m RMSE value and 1.7m bias value. The $Z_v$ values of the East Sea and Southern Sea showed higher RMSE than the Yellow Sea. Although the semi-analytical algorithm used the fixed coupling constant (= 6.0) transformed from Inherent Optical Properties (IOP) and Apparent Optical Properties (AOP) to Secchi depth, various coupling constants are needed for different sea types and water depth for the optimum estimation of $Z_v$.

• 한국산업융합학회 논문집
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• 제23권3호
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• pp.463-471
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• 2020

Recently, various tries to apply ROV (Remotely Operated Vehicle) into underwater are being developed. However, due to underwater environment uniqueness, the additional problem must be taken into account when designing an ROV for the inspection of the underwater structure. This is because a GPS-based information method cannot be applied, and the obtainable image is also dependent on the turbidity. Also, it is necessary to be able to satisfy waterproof and operating speeds in consideration of most practical application environments. This paper describes the design results of the ROV system for underwater structure inspection considering the above problems. The designed system applied INS / DVL for location recognition and was configured to support 3D mapping and stereo camera-based image information using sonar depending on visibility. To satisfy the waterproof, a pressure vessel using a composite material was applied. And over-actuated system using eight thrusters to maintain a stable posture and operating speed was applied also. The designed system was verified by structural analysis and flow analysis also.

• KSII Transactions on Internet and Information Systems (TIIS)
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• 제10권2호
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• pp.837-856
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• 2016

Underwater image enhancement has received considerable attention in last decades, due to the nature of poor visibility and low contrast of underwater images. In this paper, we propose a new automatic underwater image enhancement algorithm, which combines nonsubsampled contourlet transform (NSCT) domain enhancement techniques with the mechanism of the human visual system (HVS). We apply the multiscale retinex algorithm based on the HVS into NSCT domain in order to eliminate the non-uniform illumination, and adopt the threshold denoising technique to suppress underwater noise. Our proposed algorithm incorporates the luminance masking and contrast masking characteristics of the HVS into NSCT domain to yield the new HVS-based NSCT. Moreover, we define two nonlinear mapping functions. The first one is used to manipulate the HVS-based NSCT contrast coefficients to enhance the edges. The second one is a gain function which modifies the lowpass subband coefficients to adjust the global dynamic range. As a result, our algorithm can achieve contrast enhancement, image denoising and edge sharpening automatically and simultaneously. Experimental results illustrate that our proposed algorithm has better enhancement performance than state-of-the-art algorithms both in subjective evaluation and quantitative assessment. In addition, our algorithm can automatically achieve underwater image enhancement without any parameter tuning.

• 한국해양공학회지
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• 제36권1호
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• pp.32-40
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• 2022

Underwater optical images face various limitations that degrade the image quality compared with optical images taken in our atmosphere. Attenuation according to the wavelength of light and reflection by very small floating objects cause low contrast, blurry clarity, and color degradation in underwater images. We constructed an image data of the Korean sea and enhanced it by learning the characteristics of underwater images using the deep learning techniques of CycleGAN (cycle-consistent adversarial network), UGAN (underwater GAN), FUnIE-GAN (fast underwater image enhancement GAN). In addition, the underwater optical image was enhanced using the image processing technique of Image Fusion. For a quantitative performance comparison, UIQM (underwater image quality measure), which evaluates the performance of the enhancement in terms of colorfulness, sharpness, and contrast, and UCIQE (underwater color image quality evaluation), which evaluates the performance in terms of chroma, luminance, and saturation were calculated. For 100 underwater images taken in Korean seas, the average UIQMs of CycleGAN, UGAN, and FUnIE-GAN were 3.91, 3.42, and 2.66, respectively, and the average UCIQEs were measured to be 29.9, 26.77, and 22.88, respectively. The average UIQM and UCIQE of Image Fusion were 3.63 and 23.59, respectively. CycleGAN and UGAN qualitatively and quantitatively improved the image quality in various underwater environments, and FUnIE-GAN had performance differences depending on the underwater environment. Image Fusion showed good performance in terms of color correction and sharpness enhancement. It is expected that this method can be used for monitoring underwater works and the autonomous operation of unmanned vehicles by improving the visibility of underwater situations more accurately.

• Advances in robotics research
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• 제2권2호
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• pp.141-149
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• 2018

In image processing and robotic applications, two-dimensional (2D) black and white patterned planar markers are widely used. However, these markers are not detectable in low visibility environment and they are not changeable. This research proposes an active and adaptive marker node, which displays 2D marker patterns using light emitting diode (LED) arrays for easier recognition in the foggy or turbid underwater environments. Because each node is made to blink at a different frequency, active LED marker nodes were distinguishable from each other from a long distance without increasing the size of the marker. We expect that the proposed system can be used in various harsh conditions where the conventional marker systems are not applicable because of low visibility issues. The proposed system is still compatible with the conventional marker as the displayed patterns are identical.

• International Journal of Naval Architecture and Ocean Engineering
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• 제6권4호
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• pp.840-866
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• 2014

Visibility in underwater images is usually poor because of the attenuation of light in the water that causes low contrast and color variation. In this paper, a new approach for underwater image quality improvement is presented. The proposed method aims to improve underwater image contrast, increase image details, and reduce noise by applying a new method of using contrast stretching to produce two different images with different contrasts. The proposed method integrates the modification of the image histogram in two main color models, RGB and HSV. The histograms of the color channel in the RGB color model are modified and remapped to follow the Rayleigh distribution within certain ranges. The image is then converted to the HSV color model, and the S and V components are modified within a certain limit. Qualitative and quantitative analyses indicate that the proposed method outperforms other state-of-the-art methods in terms of contrast, details, and noise reduction. The image color also shows much improvement.

• 제어로봇시스템학회논문지
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• 제19권8호
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• pp.667-675
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• 2013

This paper presents vision-based techniques for underwater landmark detection, map-based localization, and SLAM (Simultaneous Localization and Mapping) in structured underwater environments. A variety of underwater tasks require an underwater robot to be able to successfully perform autonomous navigation, but the available sensors for accurate localization are limited. A vision sensor among the available sensors is very useful for performing short range tasks, in spite of harsh underwater conditions including low visibility, noise, and large areas of featureless topography. To overcome these problems and to a utilize vision sensor for underwater localization, we propose a novel vision-based object detection technique to be applied to MCL (Monte Carlo Localization) and EKF (Extended Kalman Filter)-based SLAM algorithms. In the image processing step, a weighted correlation coefficient-based template matching and color-based image segmentation method are proposed to improve the conventional approach. In the localization step, in order to apply the landmark detection results to MCL and EKF-SLAM, dead-reckoning information and landmark detection results are used for prediction and update phases, respectively. The performance of the proposed technique is evaluated by experiments with an underwater robot platform in an indoor water tank and the results are discussed.

• 한국해양공학회지
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• 제23권5호
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• pp.61-70
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• 2009

An AUV (Autonomous Underwater Vehicle) is an unmanned underwater vessel to investigate sea environments and deep sea resource. To be completely autonomous, AUV must have the ability to home and dock to the launcher. In this paper, we consider a class of homing trajectory planning problem for an AUV with kinematic and tactical constraints in horizontal plane. Since the AUV under consideration has underactuated characteristics, trajectory for this kind of AUV must be designed considering the underactuated characteristics. Otherwise, the AUV cannot follow the trajectory. Proposed homing trajectory panning method that called VGM (Virtual Goal Method) based on visibility graph takes the underactated characteristics into consideration. And it guarantees shortest collision free trajectory. For tracking control, we propose a PD controller by simple guidance law. Finally, we validate the trajectory planning algorithm and tracking controller by numerical simulation and ocean engineering basin experiment in KORDI.

• 대한원격탐사학회:학술대회논문집
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• 대한원격탐사학회 2006년도 Proceedings of ISRS 2006 PORSEC Volume I
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• pp.459-462
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• 2006

The diffuse attenuation coefficient for down-welling irradiance ($K_d$) is an important parameter for ocean studies including remote sensing applications. For the vast ocean, ocean color remote sensing is the only possible means to get the fine-scale measurements of $K_d$. To develop a technique of estimating $K_d$ from remotely sensed data, the following underwater optical parameters (absorption coefficient (a), attenuation coefficient (c), scattering coefficient (b), diffuse attenuation coefficient ($K_d$), etc.) have been studied. For this research we conducted the field campaign around the Yellow Sea at $8{\sim}9$ June, 2006. We obtained a set of underwater optical parameter data: down-welling irradiance ($E_d$), up-welling irradiance ($E_u$) and up-welling radiance ($L_u$) using TriOS optical sensors and a, c coefficient using Spectral Absorption and Attenuation Meter (AC-S). We then derived $K_d$ values from $E_d$ for each depth.

• 로봇학회논문지
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• 제11권2호
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• pp.51-59
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• 2016

In this paper we present (1) analysis of imaging sonar measurement for two-view relative pose estimation of an autonomous vehicle and (2) bundle adjustment and 3D reconstruction method using imaging sonar. Sonar has been a popular sensor for underwater application due to its robustness to water turbidity and visibility in water medium. While vision based motion estimation has been applied to many ground vehicles for motion estimation and 3D reconstruction, imaging sonar addresses challenges in relative sensor frame motion. We focus on the fact that the sonar measurement inherently poses ambiguity in its measurement. This paper illustrates the source of the ambiguity in sonar measurements and summarizes assumptions for sonar based robot navigation. For validation, we synthetically generated underwater seafloor with varying complexity to analyze the error in the motion estimation.