A metaheuristic‐based approach to optimizing color design for military camouflage using particle swarm optimization

Abstract

Enhancing an existing military camouflage is an important component during the assessment of military camouflage. The current study proposed a new and practical approach to enhancing the undetectability of a military camouflage using particle swarm optimization (PSO). Eight different locations (20 × 50 pixels) in the one swamp background were selected to be the place of a human-shaped target. The PSO would generate newly proposed camouflage as an empirical parameter based on the lower and the upper bounds from selected four different colors in swamp background. The predictive algorithm was applied to adjust the optimum shift of %L*, %a*, and %b* from the original to the empirical parameter. Thirty participants were recruited to evaluate the original and newly proposed camouflages. Paired sample t test indicates that the newly proposed military camouflage had a significant lower camouflage similarity index value and a longer detection time. The PSO shows to be a method with good results; however, a comprehensive study using multiple backgrounds and patterns would be required to generalize the methodology to other background environments or camouflage patterns. K E Y W O R D Scamouflage similarity index, detection time, military camouflage, particle swarm optimization, target search

Evaluating Southeast Asian Military Camouflage Designs Using Camouflage Similarity Index (Csi)

“…The purpose of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of Southeast Asian military camouflages using Camouflage Similarity Index (CSI). Different from our previous study which mainly focused on the enhancement of the existing camouflage [3,4], the current mainly focuses on the comparison of CSI values between selected existing camouflage in Southeast Asian. The results of this study could be applicable to the enhancement of military camouflages in Southeast Asian.…”

“…It is an attempt to minimize the difference between the army combat uniform and the combat environments so that human eyes and military detection instruments struggle to detect and distinguish the target [2]. Academicians [3][4][5], manufacturers, and even military organizations are continuously involved in the military camouflage research, seeking to enhance the concealment of the camouflage while also considering diverse combat environments [6][7][8]. The camouflage of the soldier's first line could be improved by a comprehensive assessment that considers two important aspects of the military camouflage: pattern and color [9].…”

“…CSI measured the color difference between selected camouflage and background pixel to pixel by applying the CIE 1976 L*a*b* color system [12] and NBC color difference as the basis calculation [11]. CSI has ranged from 0 to 1 and the best value 0 is achieved if the selected camouflage perfectly blends with the background [3][4][5]11]. Lower CSI value was proved to be correlated with longer detection time with the Pearson correlation around 0.436 (p < 0.05) [3,4,11].…”

“…CSI has ranged from 0 to 1 and the best value 0 is achieved if the selected camouflage perfectly blends with the background [3][4][5]11]. Lower CSI value was proved to be correlated with longer detection time with the Pearson correlation around 0.436 (p < 0.05) [3,4,11]. In addition, our image quality assessment algorithm was found outperformed some common image quality assessment algorithms such as UIQI [13], MSE, PSNR, and SSIM [14][15][16][17].…”

Diffuse reflectance behavior of the printed cotton/nylon blend fabrics treated with zirconium and cerium dioxide and citric acid in near‐ and short‐wave IR radiation spectral ranges

“…7,8 Recently, new and practical approaches have been developed to enhance military camouflage in the visible area, with relatively few human subject tests, by using response surface methodology (RSM) of %L*, %a*, and %b* in CIELAB color space and investigating the variations of these parameters with regard to the camouflage similarity index (CSI) and reaction time (RT). 9,10 Another advanced camouflage technology in the visible area is the use of chameleon fabrics. In this way, thermochromic colorants were utilized to improve the chameleon effect in the fabrics on application of heat from external sources, such as hot air oven or electrical power.…”