An enhanced YOLOv12 framework for accurate and efficient small object detection in aerial images
摘要
In remote sensing, small target detection is essential for applications like military target localization and traffic monitoring. However, small targets frequently lack adequate physical features, such as texture and shape, due to their limited pixel coverage. This leads to significant information loss during network propagation and decreases detection accuracy. This paper proposes an improved YOLOv12 model by integrating and adapting existing techniques to better address these issues, achieving a balance between detection accuracy and computational efficiency. To maximize feature extraction and improve the representation of small targets, a pinwheel-shaped convolution (PConv) module is integrated into the shallow feature extraction layers. The fixed-weight loss function in the conventional YOLO framework is replaced with a scale-based dynamic loss function (SBDL), which improves training stability and detection accuracy for targets of different sizes. Furthermore, the RFCBAMConv module is incorporated into the C3k2 component to form an enhanced C3k2-R structure, improving multi-scale feature representation. Additionally, the original large-object detection head (20