To design holographic and impulse ground penetrating radar (GPR) sensors suitable for humanitarian de-mining in the Donbass (Ukraine) conflict zone, we measured critical electromagnetic parameters of typical local soils using simple methods that could be adapted to any geologic setting. Measurements were recorded along six profiles, each crossing at least two mapped soil types. The parameters selected to evaluate GPR and metal detector sensor performance were magnetic permeability, electrical conductivity, and dielectric permittivity. Magnetic permeability measurements indicated that local soils would be conducive to metal detector performance. Electrical conductivity measurements indicated that local soils would be medium to high loss materials for GPR. Calculation of the expected attenuation as a function of signal frequency suggested that 1 GHz may have optimized the trade-off between resolution and penetration and matched the impulse GPR system power budget. Dielectric permittivity was measured using both time domain reflectometry and impulse GPR. For the latter, a calibration procedure based on an in-situ measurement of reflection coefficient was proposed and the data were analyzed to show that soil conditions were suitable for the reliable use of impulse GPR. A distinct difference between the results of these two suggested a dry (low dielectric) soil surface, grading downward into more moist (higher dielectric) soils. This gradation may provide a matching layer to reduce ground surface reflections that often obscure shallow subsurface targets. In addition, the relatively high dielectric deeper (10 cm–20 cm) subsurface soils should provide a strong contrast with plastic-cased mines.

The modern world is characterized by the pervasive use of computers, sensors, robotics, and Internet connectivity. This represents a new industrial revolution, dubbed Industry 4.0. In this paper, we discuss the application of the Industry 4.0 paradigm to creating a robotic search-and-detection platform intended for humanitarian demining. This is based on the combination and interaction of two microwave radars - including a UWB multi-sensor array, and a holographic imager - as well as 3-D optical cameras, remote navigation, and GPS tracking. The concepts introduced by Industry 4.0 represent an important opportunity for the scientific community to adopt new approaches in the design and use of UWB radar systems, and how data from these systems can be shared, archived, and processed in a decentralized manner accessible to the worldwide community

In many cryogenic systems, during useful life, defects or degradation of performance are found. Frequently these malfunctions are due to the presence of alterations in the characteristics of the thermal insulating materials used to coat the metal parts of the system. It is useful to evaluate methods for investigating the quality of insulating coatings by means of instruments, with low cost, that can be easily used during production. Thermal insulating materials are characterized by a relative dielectric constant close to the unit and a low Loss Factor: this work aims to investigate the use of microwave holographic radar for the detection of defects in such materials. The results show good detectability of defects when they are oriented as the antenna axis. Finally, it is shown that the robotic scan can examine large areas with the same detection performances of manual scan but with less set up and scanning time.

The NATO SPS G-5014 project has shown the possibility of using a holographic RADAR for the detection of anti-personnel mines. To use the RADAR on a robotic scanning system, it must be portable, light, easily integrated with mechanical handling systems and configurable in its operating parameters for optimal performance on different terrains. The novel contribution is to use software programmable electronics to optimize performance and to use a time reference to obtain synchronization between the RADAR samples and the position in space, in order to make it easy to integrate the RADAR on robotic platforms. To achieve these goals we used the Analog Devices “ADALM Pluto” device based on Software Defined Radio technology and a time server. We have obtained a portable system, configurable via software in all its operating parameters and easily integrated on robotic scanning platforms. The paper will show experiments performed on a simulated minefield. The electronics project reported in this work makes holographic RADARs portable and easily reconfigurable, therefore adaptable to different applications from subsurface soil investigations to applications in the field of non-destructive testings.