Abstract
The development of a next-generation EO/IR Gimbal system is so rapid, and it is crucial to enhance the defence forces that require more reliable Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities. The possible outcomes of the development initiatives include improved target tracking, longer detection ranges, and higher image quality- all of which are essential in surveillance applications. To obtain precise object tracking in challenging situations, combined EO and IR camera images are used. Image fusion techniques enhance the features in these images; the fused images provide better tracking and detection capabilities in difficult-to-track scenarios. This survey offers an extensive investigation of image fusion methods. The evaluation of the fused image is also described as a crucial component, offering different ways to assess the quality of both full-resolution and reduced-resolution images. Finally, this work is concluded by going over the current constraints, issues, and problems with image fusion methods, datasets, and quality evaluation.