Close
0%
0%

GPRino

Ground Penetrating Radar using Arduino

Similar projects worth following
This project developed a very low cost (under 300 USD components cost) Ground Penetrating Radar. The acquired data can be visualized onboard, in real time, as well as stored and transferred to a PC for further processing.
The digital section uses an Arduino Mega 2560 board.
The onboard visualization uses an LCD shield for Arduino Mega 2560.
The analog section is custom built.
The frequency range is 323 MHz - 910 MHz.

The construction and software files contain the complete information for building the project.

Software v3.zip

Arduino and PC (made in LabVIEW 2013) source code

x-zip-compressed - 900.80 kB - 02/11/2024 at 19:57

Download

Operation_instructions.txt

Operation Instructions

plain - 1.26 kB - 10/21/2023 at 18:23

Download

Antennas.zip

Antennas - New version of antennas, must be printed on double-sided PCB FR4 laminate size A4 (210 x 297 mm)

x-zip-compressed - 361.52 kB - 08/30/2021 at 13:46

Download

PCB_Construction.zip

PCB images in PDF for Toner Transfer PCB construction (Top layer mirrored), and schematics

x-zip-compressed - 2.03 MB - 05/24/2022 at 14:49

Download

LF (GPR_JF) board.zip

OrCAD 9.2 design files and Gerber for Low Frequency board

x-zip-compressed - 344.98 kB - 10/21/2020 at 12:02

Download

View all 9 files

  • 1 × Arduino Mega 2560
  • 1 × LCD TFT 3.2 inch + slot sd card Uses HX8357 chip
  • 1 × JTOS-850VW+ VCO
  • 1 × PAT-10+ RF Attenuator
  • 2 × PSA4-5043+ LNA

View all 49 components

  • 19.10.2020

    Mirel Paun10/19/2020 at 14:14 0 comments

    System tested on a bridge. This is the GPR image obtained for the bridge in the photo:

  • 08.10.2020

    Mirel Paun10/08/2020 at 16:03 0 comments

    System tested and works fine.

    Antenna coupling is quite high. Would be nice placing the antennas at a bigger distance from each other, or using more directive antennas in order to reduce unwanted coupling.

View all 2 project logs

  • 1
    Board stack
  • 2
    Board stack in box

    This is how the electronic boards are stacked.

  • 3
    RF (GPR_RF) board top

View all 9 instructions

Enjoy this project?

Share

Discussions

uglychicken2005 wrote 02/28/2021 at 14:39 point

Spitballing Possible alternative options: 

Convert arduino IDE  to raspberry pi coding

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=lZvhtfUlY8Y&list=LL&index=1

Raspberry pi offers larger 7" screens

And apparently with a "pi zero hat" you could read analog?

Amazon sells a copper laminate 21"x24. Almost big enough for an antenna?

https://www.amazon.com/Single-Sided-Copper-Laminate-Circuit/dp/B01M16DFD2/ref=sr_1_10?dchild=1&keywords=copper+laminate+23&qid=1614521143&s=industrial&sr=1-10

Or would Copper tape on some natural FR4 work, cut to size?

  Are you sure? yes | no

Duane C. Johnson wrote 04/12/2022 at 22:06 point

I don't think the metal used in the antennas is significant. The dimension yes but any metal like aluminum or steel would work just as well. And a lot cheaper.

I would want to use aluminum foil, but one can't solder to it.

redrok

  Are you sure? yes | no

uglychicken2005 wrote 02/27/2021 at 00:44 point

Could the CVCO55CW-0400-0800 be used in place of the JTOS-850VW+?? Granted it won't work with the Gerber prints so you would probably need to get creative.

  Are you sure? yes | no

cae1386 wrote 02/26/2021 at 08:39 point

Hi . Can I use adf4351 eval board as freq generator (controlled by arduino uno) and hackrf one as receiver instead of most items?

  Are you sure? yes | no

lampart wrote 02/25/2021 at 16:21 point

JTOS-850VW + is being retired. What to replace them with?

  Are you sure? yes | no

robertspark wrote 02/19/2021 at 08:44 point

would this be useful for finding pipes and cables below ground?

what sort of penetration depth?

I appreciate it's not going to be a £5k + for, but I'm curious.  

are there apps available that can put together 3d scan imagery based upon the scans?

  Are you sure? yes | no

lampart wrote 02/12/2021 at 18:29 point

The 3.2 inch display is terribly small. I did not find larger ones with SD and the appropriate driver. Is there any advice for a larger LCD on the GPR casing, e.g. 5-7 inches?

  Are you sure? yes | no

velicefairtuncay wrote 02/03/2021 at 14:59 point

good health in your hands

it is very, very beautiful

We set it up, we tried but it didn't work

We couldn't set up an antenna

please more details about the antenna if possible close-up pictures

otherwise all the effort will go to waste

  Are you sure? yes | no

Mirel Paun wrote 02/07/2021 at 12:06 point

I added the antennas blueprint. 

The actual antennas I used in the prototype are smaller and the dielectric has lower permittivity, so they are not optimal. You should build the antennas according to the blueprint for optimal results.

Another issue is the distance between the antennas, which should be increased in order to reduce the undesirable coupling. In my prototype they are too close, again not optimal, so in order to correct the coupling I added the following line in the Arduino code: "real[i] = (double)(esantioane[i]) - (double)(corectie[i]); // Load samples and correct antenna coupling". This line subtracts the coupling provided in "const word corectie[nr_esant]" vector at the beginning of the program, but it is correct only for my specific antennas setup measured in an anechoic site.

I recommend you to build the antennas according to the blueprint and place them further apart to minimize coupling. I updated the Arduino code, eliminating the correction. You should also update with this code. Please keep me in touch with your results.

  Are you sure? yes | no

VeliCefairTuncay wrote 02/10/2021 at 19:38 point

couldn't find pcb laminated larger than 30x20cm to produce antennas by hand

I do not understand the connector part

if you provide pcb gerber file matching the size in the picture

I will have it produced in the factory

They wanted $ 200 for 2 pcb including shipping, but I will do it anyway.

I share the developments with you

I am very curious about

learn about this subject

I want to perfect this project

of course with your permission and assistance

  Are you sure? yes | no

Mirel Paun wrote 02/15/2021 at 12:54 point

Unfortunately I don't have a gerber file for the antennas because I made them manually. I think you should find large pcb laminates for building the antennas by hand. 

  Are you sure? yes | no

VeliCefairTuncay wrote 02/17/2021 at 20:32 point

thanks  mirel 

  Are you sure? yes | no

lampart wrote 02/18/2021 at 18:26 point

It's best to ask sellers about larger laminates or ask about DIY, electronics or robotics on forums. I asked the sellers and one of them wrote back saying that he could cut a piece from a large board for USD 24.32 (90 PLN) m2. Getting the antennas from the cheapest company starts at $ 175.

  Are you sure? yes | no

Piyaldasanayaka1118 wrote 12/03/2022 at 06:30 point

;Sir, how do you make a 3d that tries to take care of things under the ground.  Please make something like that.  It is very valuable.. diagrams and.  Will you make a video showing all the equipment... we hope.  For example, secret imager 3d, (uxo mini underground imaging detector), easy way detector, produced by Adrenaline Company, can be named...they are umbrellas.  Easy to use.  How to make such a device.. Do the project and show it.  Good luck to you, happy for you.

  Are you sure? yes | no

jeferson.arredondo.gutierrez wrote 01/29/2021 at 04:07 point

mirel paun eres muy ingenioso e inteligente 

A que profundidad llega tu gpr,  tengo un proyecto de un detector de oro y me gustaría darte la base que tengo para que lo puedas hacer realidad. Tienes whatsapp?

  Are you sure? yes | no

freeways.tv wrote 01/02/2021 at 18:01 point

Hello, I started to understand your circuit and found that there is no connection diagram between the GPR_JF board and the Arduino board. Could you help see this?

  Are you sure? yes | no

lampart wrote 12/24/2020 at 18:52 point

What antenna resolution?

There is an option to buy a whole set of components for self-soldering?

You haven't thought of building a metal detector? Frame with 1x1 or 2x2m frame?

  Are you sure? yes | no

Martin wrote 12/22/2020 at 11:19 point

Hi, 

Thank you for a great project.

I just try to preview the gerber files on JLCPCB  gerber viewer or SeeedStudio Fusion viewer, but there are mirrored some layers and pads holes so they can't make PCB with this mirroring problems. Can you provide the brd files for generating correct gerber files for manufacturing?

Best regards

 Martin

  Are you sure? yes | no

gbiniaris wrote 12/18/2020 at 06:59 point

 very impressive work well done i wonder if it is possible to use directional antennas uwb high gain like the r101c 730MHz-6.5GHz with Low Noise LNA Board Wide Broadband 0.6-60dB RF Amplifier Module for better results 

  Are you sure? yes | no

Mirel Paun wrote 02/16/2021 at 09:28 point

the circuit works in a different frequency range, so the answer is no.

  Are you sure? yes | no

gbiniaris wrote 02/16/2021 at 10:41 point

which one?

  Are you sure? yes | no

Mirel Paun wrote 02/16/2021 at 20:47 point

My GPR works in the range 323MHz-910MHz, lower than the r101c antennas, so they can't be used.

  Are you sure? yes | no

Xentrax wrote 12/06/2020 at 14:31 point

Interesting project and great work so far! I'd like to build it myself, but the documentation could really be improved. Especially about the Antipodal Vivaldi antenna.

  Are you sure? yes | no

dianasetonpage wrote 11/19/2020 at 18:37 point

Following on from my previous comment, I assume that these two inner layers are ground and power planes so are copper apart from the areas shown, and also I can't at the moment see how these planes are connected to + ve and ground on the top layer ? Also I cannot see that CON2 does anything ? Also gpr.rf.bot seems to overlays the wrong way round. I would be grateful for your feedback on these points - it may be my unfamiliarity with Gerber files.      

  Are you sure? yes | no

dianasetonpage wrote 11/19/2020 at 07:21 point

Interesting project. There appear to be two plain copper inner layers in the RF pcb.  Do you think they could be left out ?

  Are you sure? yes | no

alexatzovaras wrote 11/16/2020 at 12:53 point

Interesting project, I haven't seen anywhere how long can it see underground?(depth)

  Are you sure? yes | no

yves913 wrote 11/13/2020 at 13:24 point

Interesting project, i work with GSSI radar and i follow a similar project "TU1208_Guide to building a GPR radar for educational use- rev2-nov17" i will try to improve a little. very thanks you for the work

  Are you sure? yes | no

Dmitry wrote 11/12/2020 at 15:45 point

What do you think, is it possible to detect a several meters long horizontal steel rod (with diameter around 10 mm) buried in soil at depth around 0.5 m? Or the diameter is too small?

  Are you sure? yes | no

Mirel Paun wrote 11/12/2020 at 17:04 point

The diameter is too small. For this kind of application you need a radar working at much higher frequencies, in the GHz range.

  Are you sure? yes | no

yves913 wrote 11/13/2020 at 13:20 point

@900Mhz with GSSI GPR we can detect bar on the concret. @2Ghz is better. 

  Are you sure? yes | no

gbiniaris wrote 12/20/2020 at 15:44 point

very impressive work well done i wonder if it is possible to use directional antennas uwb high gain like the r101c 730MHz-6.5GHz with Low Noise LNA Board Wide Broadband 0.6-60dB RF Amplifier Module for better results 

  Are you sure? yes | no

Adam Quantrill wrote 10/22/2020 at 22:52 point

Interesting antennas. I have some wideband yagi's, would they be worth trying I wonder?

Regarding antenna coupling, I had similar experiences in mobile comms. You could try pointing the antennas up at the sky. Then couple back some antiphase TX into the RX, to null out the coupling. You'll need a bunch of attenuators (or a switched one).

  Are you sure? yes | no

Mirel Paun wrote 10/23/2020 at 10:21 point

If your Yagi antennas operate in the GPR's band, they should work. Regarding the coupling, I stored the Rx signal obtained for a target-less measurement and the GPR subtracts it from each acquisition. Different antennas will need a different correction signal. It can be replaced in the Arduino code, or can be completely eliminated if the antennas are placed sufficiently apart from each other. 

  Are you sure? yes | no

r.e.wolff wrote 10/22/2020 at 21:04 point

What do you use to generate the RF?
Can you sweep the frequency?  Can you RX while you TX? 
If you could do that, there is a trick I learned over three decades ago.
Mix the RX signal with the TX and sample as fast as you can while sweeping up the frequency band. Once you've completed a sweep, FFT the received signal and... You've got a cross section of the soil.... This should reduce the noise a lot because all samples contribute to all result pixels. 

  Are you sure? yes | no

Mirel Paun wrote 10/23/2020 at 10:07 point

The answer is YES, this is precisely how I implemented it, it's called Frequency Modulated Continuous Wave (FMCW) operation.

  Are you sure? yes | no

Similar Projects

Does this project spark your interest?

Become a member to follow this project and never miss any updates