diff --git a/app/src/main/java/com/quillstudios/pokegoalshelper/ml/MLResult.kt b/app/src/main/java/com/quillstudios/pokegoalshelper/ml/MLResult.kt
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..b1890d2
--- /dev/null
+++ b/app/src/main/java/com/quillstudios/pokegoalshelper/ml/MLResult.kt
@@ -0,0 +1,83 @@
+package com.quillstudios.pokegoalshelper.ml
+
+/**
+ * Result wrapper for ML operations to standardize error handling
+ */
+sealed class MLResult<out T>
+{
+    data class Success<T>(val data: T) : MLResult<T>()
+    data class Error(val exception: Throwable, val message: String) : MLResult<Nothing>()
+    
+    /**
+     * Returns the data if successful, or null if error
+     */
+    fun getOrNull(): T? = when (this)
+    {
+        is Success -> data
+        is Error -> null
+    }
+    
+    /**
+     * Returns the data if successful, or the default value if error
+     */
+    fun getOrDefault(default: T): T = when (this)
+    {
+        is Success -> data
+        is Error -> default
+    }
+    
+    /**
+     * Execute block if successful
+     */
+    inline fun onSuccess(block: (T) -> Unit): MLResult<T>
+    {
+        if (this is Success) block(data)
+        return this
+    }
+    
+    /**
+     * Execute block if error
+     */
+    inline fun onError(block: (Throwable, String) -> Unit): MLResult<T>
+    {
+        if (this is Error) block(exception, message)
+        return this
+    }
+    
+    /**
+     * Transform the data if successful
+     */
+    inline fun <R> map(transform: (T) -> R): MLResult<R> = when (this)
+    {
+        is Success -> try { Success(transform(data)) } 
+                     catch (e: Exception) { Error(e, "Transform failed: ${e.message}") }
+        is Error -> this
+    }
+}
+
+/**
+ * Helper functions for creating results
+ */
+inline fun <T> mlTry(operation: () -> T): MLResult<T>
+{
+    return try
+    {
+        MLResult.Success(operation())
+    }
+    catch (e: Exception)
+    {
+        MLResult.Error(e, "Operation failed: ${e.message}")
+    }
+}
+
+inline fun <T> mlTryWithMessage(message: String, operation: () -> T): MLResult<T>
+{
+    return try
+    {
+        MLResult.Success(operation())
+    }
+    catch (e: Exception)
+    {
+        MLResult.Error(e, "$message: ${e.message}")
+    }
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/app/src/main/java/com/quillstudios/pokegoalshelper/ml/MatUtils.kt b/app/src/main/java/com/quillstudios/pokegoalshelper/ml/MatUtils.kt
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..ca0c9c4
--- /dev/null
+++ b/app/src/main/java/com/quillstudios/pokegoalshelper/ml/MatUtils.kt
@@ -0,0 +1,61 @@
+package com.quillstudios.pokegoalshelper.ml
+
+import org.opencv.core.Mat
+
+/**
+ * Utility functions for safe Mat resource management
+ */
+
+/**
+ * Execute a block with automatic Mat cleanup
+ */
+inline fun <T> Mat.use(block: (Mat) -> T): T
+{
+    return try
+    {
+        block(this)
+    }
+    finally
+    {
+        this.release()
+    }
+}
+
+/**
+ * Execute a block with multiple Mats and automatic cleanup
+ */
+inline fun <T> useMats(vararg mats: Mat, block: () -> T): T
+{
+    return try
+    {
+        block()
+    }
+    finally
+    {
+        mats.forEach { it.release() }
+    }
+}
+
+/**
+ * Create a new Mat and execute block with automatic cleanup
+ */
+inline fun <T> withNewMat(block: (Mat) -> T): T
+{
+    return Mat().use(block)
+}
+
+/**
+ * Create multiple new Mats and execute block with automatic cleanup
+ */
+inline fun <T> withNewMats(count: Int, block: (List<Mat>) -> T): T
+{
+    val mats = (1..count).map { Mat() }
+    return try
+    {
+        block(mats)
+    }
+    finally
+    {
+        mats.forEach { it.release() }
+    }
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/app/src/main/java/com/quillstudios/pokegoalshelper/ml/YOLOInferenceEngine.kt b/app/src/main/java/com/quillstudios/pokegoalshelper/ml/YOLOInferenceEngine.kt
index 80d3e3e..f60d271 100644
--- a/app/src/main/java/com/quillstudios/pokegoalshelper/ml/YOLOInferenceEngine.kt
+++ b/app/src/main/java/com/quillstudios/pokegoalshelper/ml/YOLOInferenceEngine.kt
@@ -92,6 +92,9 @@ class YOLOInferenceEngine(private val context: Context) : MLInferenceEngine
     private var ortEnvironment: OrtEnvironment? = null
     private var isInitialized = false
     
+    // Shared thread pool for preprocessing operations (prevents creating new pools per detection)
+    private val preprocessingExecutor = Executors.newFixedThreadPool(3)
+    
     private var confidenceThreshold = CONFIDENCE_THRESHOLD
     private var classFilter: String? = null
     
@@ -247,8 +250,7 @@ class YOLOInferenceEngine(private val context: Context) : MLInferenceEngine
         
         try
         {
-            val detections = detectWithMat(input_mat)
-            detections
+            detectWithMat(input_mat)
         }
         finally
         {
@@ -302,29 +304,28 @@ class YOLOInferenceEngine(private val context: Context) : MLInferenceEngine
 
     private suspend fun detectWithMultiplePreprocessing(inputMat: Mat): List<Detection>
     {
-        val executor = Executors.newFixedThreadPool(3)
         val futures = mutableListOf<Future<List<Detection>>>()
         
         try
         {
-            // Submit different preprocessing methods
+            // Submit different preprocessing methods using shared executor
             if (ENABLE_ULTRALYTICS_PREPROCESSING)
             {
-                futures.add(executor.submit<List<Detection>> { 
+                futures.add(preprocessingExecutor.submit<List<Detection>> { 
                     detectWithPreprocessing(inputMat, "ultralytics") 
                 })
             }
             
             if (ENABLE_CONTRAST_ENHANCEMENT)
             {
-                futures.add(executor.submit<List<Detection>> { 
+                futures.add(preprocessingExecutor.submit<List<Detection>> { 
                     detectWithPreprocessing(inputMat, "enhanced") 
                 })
             }
             
             if (ENABLE_SHARPENING)
             {
-                futures.add(executor.submit<List<Detection>> { 
+                futures.add(preprocessingExecutor.submit<List<Detection>> { 
                     detectWithPreprocessing(inputMat, "sharpened") 
                 })
             }
@@ -347,9 +348,10 @@ class YOLOInferenceEngine(private val context: Context) : MLInferenceEngine
             // Merge and filter detections
             return mergeAndFilterDetections(all_detections)
         }
-        finally
+        catch (e: Exception)
         {
-            executor.shutdownNow()
+            Log.e(TAG, "❌ Error in multiple preprocessing", e)
+            return emptyList()
         }
     }
 
@@ -433,6 +435,14 @@ class YOLOInferenceEngine(private val context: Context) : MLInferenceEngine
         
         try
         {
+            // Shutdown thread pool with grace period
+            preprocessingExecutor.shutdown()
+            if (!preprocessingExecutor.awaitTermination(2, TimeUnit.SECONDS))
+            {
+                Log.w(TAG, "⚠️ Thread pool shutdown timeout, forcing shutdown")
+                preprocessingExecutor.shutdownNow()
+            }
+            
             ortSession?.close()
             ortEnvironment?.close()
         }