Transformers in Single Object Tracking: An Experimental Survey

Single object tracking is a well-known and challenging research topic in computer vision. Over the last two decades, numerous researchers have proposed various algorithms to solve this problem and achieved promising results. Recently, Transformer-based tracking approaches have ushered in a new era in single object tracking due to their superior tracking robustness. Although several survey studies have been conducted to analyze the performance of trackers, there is a need for another survey study after the introduction of Transformers in single object tracking. In this survey, we aim to analyze the literature and performances of Transformer tracking approaches. Therefore, we conduct an in-depth literature analysis of Transformer tracking approaches and evaluate their tracking robustness and computational efficiency on challenging benchmark datasets. In addition, we have measured their performances on different tracking scenarios to find their strength and weaknesses. Our survey provides insights into the underlying principles of Transformer tracking approaches, the challenges they face, and their future directions.