Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence Approaches for Drone Detection Using YOLOv11 Algorithm

Year 2025, Volume: 6 Issue: 2, 127 - 144, 18.12.2025

Berk Demirsoy , Ömer Yılmaz , Mert Süleyman Demirsoy

https://doi.org/10.58769/joinssr.1816807

Abstract

The rapid development of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) has significantly transformed the capabilities of unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) detection systems. This study presents an AI- and ML-based approach for drone detection using the YOLOv11 algorithm, a state-of-the-art deep learning model designed for real-time object recognition. A custom dataset, consisting of 1450 drone images collected under diverse environmental and lighting conditions, was used to train and evaluate the model. The training process employed the YOLOv11 variants (n, s, m, l, x) on the PyTorch framework, with performance metrics including Precision, Recall, F1-Score, and mAP50–95. The results demonstrated exceptional detection accuracy, achieving up to 99% precision and 98% recall, with an overall mAP50 of 0.99 and mAP50–95 of 0.70. Loss function analyses indicated consistent convergence, while confusion matrix and confidence curve evaluations confirmed the model’s robustness in differentiating drone objects from background scenes. This research highlights the effectiveness of integrating deep learning architectures within AI-driven vision systems for UAV detection. The findings confirm that YOLOv11 offers a highly reliable and efficient solution for real-time drone identification, with strong potential for implementation in security, surveillance, and autonomous navigation applications.

Keywords

Artificial intelligence , deep learning , machine learning , image processing , object detection

YOLOv11 Algoritması Kullanılarak Drone Tespiti için Makine Öğrenmesi ve Yapay Zeka Yaklaşımları

Abstract

The rapid development of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) has significantly transformed the capabilities of unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) detection systems. This study presents an AI- and ML-based approach for drone detection using the YOLOv11 algorithm, a state-of-the-art deep learning model designed for real-time object recognition. A custom dataset, consisting of 1450 drone images collected under diverse environmental and lighting conditions, was used to train and evaluate the model. The training process employed the YOLOv11 variants (n, s, m, l, x) on the PyTorch framework, with performance metrics including Precision, Recall, F1-Score, and mAP50–95. The results demonstrated exceptional detection accuracy, achieving up to 99% precision and 98% recall, with an overall mAP50 of 0.99 and mAP50–95 of 0.70.
1.404 / 5.000
Yapay zekâ (YZ) ve makine öğreniminin (ML) hızlı gelişimi, insansız hava aracı (İHA) tespit sistemlerinin yeteneklerini önemli ölçüde dönüştürmüştür. Bu çalışma, gerçek zamanlı nesne tanıma için tasarlanmış son teknoloji derin öğrenme modeli olan YOLOv11 algoritmasını kullanarak drone tespiti için YZ ve ML tabanlı bir yaklaşım sunmaktadır. Modeli eğitmek ve değerlendirmek için çeşitli çevre ve ışık koşulları altında toplanan 1450 drone görüntüsünden oluşan özel bir veri kümesi kullanılmıştır. Eğitim sürecinde PyTorch çerçevesinde Hassasiyet, Geri Çağırma, F1 Puanı ve mAP50–95 gibi performans ölçütleriyle YOLOv11 varyantları (n, s, m, l, x) kullanılmıştır. Sonuçlar, %99'a varan hassasiyet ve %98'e varan geri çağırma ile 0,99'luk genel mAP50 ve 0,70'lik mAP50–95 değerlerine ulaşan olağanüstü tespit doğruluğu göstermiştir. Kayıp fonksiyonu analizleri tutarlı bir yakınsama gösterirken, karışıklık matrisi ve güven eğrisi değerlendirmeleri, modelin drone nesnelerini arka plan sahnelerinden ayırt etmedeki sağlamlığını doğruladı. Bu araştırma, derin öğrenme mimarilerinin İHA tespiti için yapay zeka destekli görüş sistemlerine entegre edilmesinin etkinliğini vurgulamaktadır. Bulgular, YOLOv11'in güvenlik, gözetleme ve otonom navigasyon uygulamalarında güçlü bir uygulama potansiyeline sahip, gerçek zamanlı drone tanımlama için son derece güvenilir ve verimli bir çözüm sunduğunu doğrulamaktadır.

Keywords

Yapay zeka , derin öğrenme , makine öğrenmesi , görüntü işleme , nesne algılama

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