FPGA implementation of cloud detection algorithm used on satellites

For optical remote sensing satellites, the existence of clouds blocks ground objects, which has a great impact on the quality of satellite image data acquisition. Based on realtime and effective cloud detection, cloud images can be identified and separated from original images, and then different processes can be conducted according to different needs of satellites. On the one hand, in order to reduce the stress on the satellite data transmission channel, cloud images do not need to be transmitted to the ground; on the other hand, cloud images can be compressed with a high compression ratio, and the amount of data saved can be employed to offer higher compression quality for noncloud images. This paper proposes an FPGA implementation method for cloud detection, which achieves a detection rate of 97% for thick clouds. Because of its good detection effect, the proposed FPGA implementation has been successfully deployed on a large number of satellites.