Multi-Class Object Learning with Application to Fabric Defects Detection

Deep convolutional neural networks (CNNs) have shown great success in single-class fabric image detection. However, real-world fabric defect images generally contain several types of defects in one image. Accurately recognizing and classifying multi-class fabric defect images is still an unsolved issue due to the complexity of intersected defects, as well as difficulty in distinguishing small-size defects. To address these challenges, this study develops a methodology based on the deep learning feature pyramid networks (FPN) approach to detect multi-class fabric defects. To evaluate the proposed detection model, we built a unique multi-class fabric defects database (DHU-MO1000), where multi-class defect images are generated by industrial monitors from a textile factory. We used the dataset as the benchmark for multi-class defects detection training and testing the FPN. Furthermore, we conducted extensive experimental validations for various design choices. The experimental results show that the model outperformed existing multi-class object detection methods.