AGPI II Airborne Ground Penetrating Imaging Sensor

This Proof of Concept (“PoC”) project is a follow on from our AGPI Proof of Market Project
700136, in which we confirmed the market for this sensor.
The aim of this 12 month project is to prove the technical feasibility of a sensor to image 3D
sub-surface structures from an aircraft, using a pulsed frequency chirped radio signal,
transmitted from an antenna at each wing tip. This is like a repetitive flash illumination of the
underlying terrain using wing tip mounted strobe lights, except that the signals pass through
the underlying ground or ice to a depth dependent on the conductivity of the soil, or ice,
enabling the imaging of sub-surface features. The reflected signals from dielectric
discontinuities, such as rocks, are detected by a co-linear array of antennas mounted under
each wing.
As the aircraft flies along, the signals detected by each antenna in each antenna array are
digitised and recorded for subsequent data processing. The data from each antenna is
processed to form a 3D image of the sub-surface features, much like an acoustic seismic
survey but using an aircraft, rather than a team of people carrying seismic sensors, to achieve
a far larger survey coverage per day, regardless of the harshness of the terrain.
We plan to develop the sensor data processing software and then perform microwave
reflection measurements, to get data for use in our software. Finally, we plan to build and
attach a prototype AGPI sensor to an unmanned aircraft and get and process the experimental
data to create a 3D sub-surface image.
The economic benefits will stem from the provision of exploration services to the oil, gas and
mineral exploration companies and from the sale of unmanned aircraft, fitted with the AGPI
sensor, for use in both civilian and in military applications. Societal benefits include
contributing to measurements of melting ice in Antarctica and furthering the search for natural
resources.
This project