SBIR PHASE II: Electronic Beam Steering for Ground Probing Radar

这个小型企业创新研究(SBIR)第二阶段项目将开发一种用于地面探测雷达(GPR)的适销对路的波束导向发射机阵列。在第一阶段下进行的研究证明了由多个天线单元叠加形成聚焦波束的可行性，该波束可以引导到地下目标。波束控制为增强目标识别、增加穿透深度和从单一位置覆盖更广的区域提供了机会。通过后处理，可以生成被调查区域的三维图像。波束导向阵列产品将被定位为一个硬件附件，以增强现有探地雷达系统的运行。因此，重要的是，这样的“附加组件”是通用的、廉价的、易于使用的，并与尽可能多的现有探地雷达系统兼容。在第二阶段，将在尽可能多的现实探地雷达环境中对原型进行测试，以将能力扩展到典型探地雷达系统的业务领域。为了促进对地下波束形成的分析理解，第二阶段的工作将把第一阶段的建模(在没有目标的情况下在均匀的地下进行)扩展到更真实的介质。分析将使用有限差分的时间域方法，以模拟更复杂的介质。此外，还将改进阵列硬件及其相关软件，以增强最终用户的功能。市场存在于地下勘探；地球物理和水文研究；地下设施、危险废物和未爆炸条例的位置；采矿隧道和地铁系统等地下隧道系统的非侵入性勘探；探测地下泄漏的流体前沿迁移；以及大区域调查(波束转向增加覆盖范围)。该奖项由SBIR计划和刺激竞争性研究的实验计划(EPSCoR)支持。

This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project will develop a marketable beam steering transmitter array for ground probing radar (GPR). Research conducted under Phase I demonstrated feasibility of forming a focused beam, from the superposition of multiple antenna elements, that can be steered to targets beneath the subsurface. Beam steering opens opportunities for enhanced target discrimination, increased depth of penetration, and broader area of coverage from a single location. Through post processing, three-dimensional images may be created of an area under investigation. The beam steered array product will be positioned as a hardware accessory that enhances the operation of existing GPR systems. Therefore, it is important that such an "add-on" be versatile, cheap, easy-to-used, and compatible with as many of the existing GPR systems as possible. In Phase II, testing of a prototype in as many realistic GPR environments as possible will be done to extend capabilities to the operational domain of typical GPR systems. To facilitate analytical understanding of subsurface beam-forming, the Phase II effort will extend the modeling of Phase I (which was done without targets and in an homogeneous subsurface) to more realistic media. The analysis will employ finite difference time-domain methods in order to model more complex media. In addition, refinement of the array hardware and its associated software will be accomplished in order to enhance end-user features. Markets exist in subsurface exploration; geophysical and hydrological studies; location of underground facilities, hazardous wastes, and unexploded ordinance; non invasive exploration of subsurface tunnel systems such as mining tunnels and subway systems; detection of fluid front migration from underground spills; and large areas surveys (added coverage from beam steering). This award is supported by the SBIR Program and the Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCOR).