Modern improvised explosive device (IED) and mine detection sensors using microwave technology are based on
ground penetrating radar operated by a ground vehicle. Vehicle size, road conditions, and obstacles along the troop
marching direction limit operation of such sensors. This paper presents a new conceptual design using a rotary unmanned
aerial vehicle (UAV) to carry subsurface imaging radar for roadside IED detection. We have built a UAV flight
simulator with the subsurface imaging radar running in a laboratory environment and tested it with non-metallic and
metallic IED-like targets. From the initial lab results, we can detect the IED-like target 10-cm below road surface while
carried by a UAV platform. One of the challenges is to design the radar and antenna system for a very small payload
(less than 3 lb). The motion compensation algorithm is also critical to the imaging quality. In this paper, we also
demonstrated the algorithm simulation and experimental imaging results with different IED target materials, sizes, and
clutters.
The nondestructive evaluation (NDE) inspection for building and bridge structures has attracted a lot of attentions
for the fundamental research and the sensor system development. In this paper, development of a distant subsurface imaging radar is reported. Theoretical background of subsurface radar imaging is first provided. Experimental laboratory measurements using radar signals in the frequency range of 1-18 GHz were conducted. From the theoretical analysis and the initial experimental results on a laboratory reinforced concrete specimens, it is proved that the proposed subsurface imaging radar system can detect the location of steel reinforcement inside a concrete cylinder and identify the material property of panel specimens. Range-dependent attenuation of radar signals is experimentally studied using different materials. Findings are reported in the summary.
Early damage detection of bridge has been an important issue for modern civil engineering technique. Existing bridge
inspection techniques used by State Department of Transportation (DOT) and County DOT include visual inspection,
mechanical sounding, rebound hammer, cover meter, electrical potential measurements, and ultrasonics; other NDE
techniques include ground penetrating radar (GPR), radiography, and some experimental types of sensors. Radar
technology like GPR has been widely used for the bridge structure detection with a good penetration depth using
microwave energy. The system to be presented in this paper is a different type of microwave sensing technology. It is
focus on the subsurface detection and trying to find out detail information at subsurface (10 cm) with high resolution
radar imaging from a flexible standoff distance. Our radar operating frequency is from 8-12 GHz, which is different
from most of the current GPR systems. Scanning array antenna system is designed for adjustable beamwidth, preferable
scanning area, and low sidelobe level. From the theoretical analysis and experimental results, it is found that the
proposed technique can successfully capture the presence of the near-surface anomaly. This system is part of our Multi-
Modal Remote Sensing System (MRSS) and provides good imaging correlations with other MRSS sensors.
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