RPDNet: Automatic Fabric Defect Detection Based on a Convolutional Neural Network and Repeated Pattern Analysis

On a global scale, the process of automatic defect detection represents a critical stage of quality control in textile industries. In this paper, a semantic segmentation network using a repeated pattern analysis algorithm is proposed for pixel-level detection of fabric defects, which is termed RPDNet (repeated pattern defect network). Specifically, we utilize a repeated pattern detector based on convolutional neural network (CNN) to detect periodic patterns in fabric images. Through the acquired repeated pattern information and proper guidance of the network in a high-level semantic space, the ability to understand periodic feature knowledge and emphasize potential defect areas is realized. Concurrently, we propose a semi-supervised learning scheme to inject the periodic knowledge into the model separately, which enables the model to function independently from further pre-calculation during detection, so there is no additional network capacity required and no loss in detection speed caused. In addition, the model integrates two advanced architectures of DeeplabV3+ and GhostNet to effectively implement lightweight fabric defect detection. The comparative experiments on repeated pattern fabric images highlights the potential of the algorithm to determine competitive detection results without incurring further computational cost.