LAUSR

Abstract In this paper, we set up a lightweight, frequency-domain radar system using a handheld vector network analyser combined with air-coupled and dielectric-coupled horn antennas. A new positioning system with a binary barcode ruler, reading webcam and an algorithm for its recognition was developed. The radar system was tested on several media using both the air-coupled and dielectric-coupled antennas, namely, on a laboratory model containing sand and on a concrete block with a metallic reinforcement. The resulting GPR images demonstrated the good functioning of the radar system. In our experiments, both antennas and the whole lightweight radar system provided radar images which permitted to clearly detect the buried objects. Furthermore, the dielectric-coupled horn antenna showed better coupling with the investigated materials, resulting in higher-quality radar images.