Biofouling detection and classification in Tidal Stream Turbines through soft voting ensemble transfer learning of video images

This study addresses the biofouling challenges in Tidal Stream Turbines (TSTs) to ensure their reliable and optimal operation. In this context, it is proposed an effective methodology employing a soft voting ensemble transfer learning-based approach for the detection and extent classification of biofouling. The proposed framework incorporates essential components such as data augmentation and pre-processing, including image resizing and data segmentation, forming a comprehensive video image-based approach. To overcome the constraint of limited data, experimental investigations were conducted, resulting in the acquisition of two datasets: one from the TST platform at Shanghai Maritime University (SMU) and the other from the tidal turbulence test facility at Lehigh University (LU). The three prominent convolutional neural network models, namely Visual Geometry Group (VGG), Residual Network (ResNet) and MobileNet, trained on these datasets, demonstrate precise detection and classification of turbine conditions, achieving an accuracy of 83% for the SMU dataset and 90% for the LU dataset. The noted disparity in accuracy for the SMU dataset is attributed to its smaller size, highlighting the significant impact of dataset scale on classification performance. This study provides valuable insight into the development of effective biofouling detection and classification strategies for TST systems.