Improved UAV-to-Ground Multi-Target Tracking Algorithm Based on StrongSORT

Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) are essential for aerial reconnaissance and monitoring. One of the greatest challenges facing UAVs is vision-based multi-target tracking. Multi-target tracking algorithms that depend on visual data are utilized in a variety of fields. In this study, we present a comprehensive framework for real-time tracking of ground robots in forest and grassland environments. This framework utilizes the YOLOv5n detection algorithm and a multi-target tracking algorithm for monitoring ground robot activities in real-time video streams. We optimized both detection and re-identification networks to enhance real-time target detection. The StrongSORT tracking algorithm was selected carefully to alleviate the loss of tracked objects due to factors like camera jitter, intersecting and overlapping targets, and smaller target sizes. The YOLOv5n algorithm was used to train the dataset, and the StrongSORT tracking algorithm incorporated the best-trained model weights. The algorithm’s performance has greatly improved, as demonstrated by experimental results. The number of ID switches (IDSW) has decreased by sixfold, IDF1 has increased by 7.93%, and false positives (FP) have decreased by 30.28%. Additionally, the tracking speed has reached 38 frames per second. These findings validate our algorithm’s ability to fulfill real-time tracking requisites on UAV platforms, delivering dependable resolutions for dynamic multi-target tracking on land.