Underwater range-gated laser imaging system design with video enhancement processing

Range-gated laser imaging technology as a way of underwater detection featuring long detecting distance has a very wide range of applications in underwater exploration, reconnaissance, rescue and other fields. Digital image enhancement algorithm has been proved to have a significant effect to further improve the image quality of underwater range-gated laser imaging system. Based on lab´s previous research on underwater range-gated laser imaging technology, we realize the local non-linear enhancement algorithm on FPGA hardware platform, which obtained real-time underwater laser range-gated imaging enhancement. Experiments were carried out in 18m long pipes full of water to compare and analyze several enhancement algorithms together. The results showed that the local non-linear enhancement algorithm in the paper significantly improved image quality compared to the conventional methods.