Evolution and Prospects of Polarization Image Simulation Technology

Authors

• Gengpeng Li, Armament Launch Theory and Technology Key Discipline Laboratory of PRC, Rocket Force University of Engineering, Xi'an 710025, China
• Wei Cai, Armament Launch Theory and Technology Key Discipline Laboratory of PRC, Rocket Force University of Engineering, Xi'an 710025, China
• Zhiyong Yang, Armament Launch Theory and Technology Key Discipline Laboratory of PRC, Rocket Force University of Engineering, Xi'an 710025, China
• Zhili Zhang, Armament Launch Theory and Technology Key Discipline Laboratory of PRC, Rocket Force University of Engineering, Xi'an 710025, China
• Xiaowei Wang, Armament Launch Theory and Technology Key Discipline Laboratory of PRC, Rocket Force University of Engineering, Xi'an 710025, China

Abstract

Abstract: Polarization image simulation technology is a key means to break through the bottleneck of polarization data acquisition and promote the development of polarization vision. This study systematically reviewed three evolutionary paradigms of this technology: Physical mechanism simulation, based on the polarization bidirectional reflectance distribution function and polarization ray tracing, strictly solves polarization light transmission, which has high interpretability and credibility, but it is computationally complex and lacks visual realism. Data-driven simulation, using models like neural radiance fields to learn polarization appearance from data, has high generation efficiency and visual fidelity but weaker physical consistency and interpretability. Physics-data fusion simulation embeds physical constraints into data-driven models through differentiable rendering, balancing physical correctness and visual realism. This study summarized representative works of the three simulation paradigms, compared and analyzed the simulation performance and applicable scenarios of different paradigms, reviewed related datasets and simulation evaluation metrics, and discussed the current challenges and future development directions of the three paradigms.

Recommended Citation

Li, Gengpeng; Cai, Wei; Yang, Zhiyong; Zhang, Zhili; and Wang, Xiaowei (2026) "Evolution and Prospects of Polarization Image Simulation Technology," Journal of System Simulation: Vol. 38: Iss. 7, Article 1.
DOI: 10.16182/j.issn1004731x.joss.25-1221
Available at: https://dc-china-simulation.researchcommons.org/journal/vol38/iss7/1

First Page

1783

Last Page

1800

CLC

TP391.9

Recommended Citation

Li Gengpeng, Cai Wei, Yang Zhiyong, et al. Evolution and Prospects of Polarization Image Simulation Technology[J]. Journal of System Simulation, 2026, 38(7): 1783-1800.

Corresponding Author

Cai Wei

DOI

10.16182/j.issn1004731x.joss.25-1221