THE PROJECT

The project deals with the production of a dual-mode, low-frequency, radar installed on board of a light-weight UAV. The radar will operate into two modes: as Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) and as ground penetrating radar. Both instruments provide extremely interesting images that are extensively used in Earth and planetary observations.

However, these airborne systems are bulky and can be operated only from manned aircraft both planes and helicopters. On the other hand, the few drones that can sustain such a equipment are large and heavy. In both cases, the operations are expensive and has a complicate logistic. The quantum leap of FlyRadar consists of installing this radar system onboard small and light electric octocopters, providing low cost utilisation and easy operations. This affordable system will enlarge the user communities generating the possibility for an extensive use of FlyRadar taking advantage of the potentiality of this long-lasting innovation.

 

FlyRadar has passed the first fly tests!!!

It is a radar with double mode: a SAR and penetrating radar like the one flying around Mars (MARSIS and SHARAD).

The testing has demonstrated that a light electric drone can carry on a complex radar with a large antenna.

The bet was that a small drone powered by electric motors could carry the weight of the radar, batteries and an antenna bigger than it. Now, we can go ahead with the full integration.

 

Automatic flight plan of 1.5 km with payload of 4.5 kg!

The objectives of these tests are:

ü  Check how the drone manage the Flight Plan  

ü  Check the setting of the PID of the drone and it new remote control

ü  Check the autonomy with a dummy radar (3,2 kg) and the antenna (1,3kg with the installation of a spacer) for a total weight of about 4,5 kg.

The FlyRadar UAV is ready to fly!

The FlyRadar antenna ready for the first tests.

FlyRadar under integration in Lyon. The radar, just arrived from Naples, is going to be assembled.

The new fixation for the FlyRadar antennas

A GoPro camera was added to film the ground.

The radar’s GPS is fixed to the drone’s battery in the center.

First Test for the fully integrated FlyRadar.

Antenna, drone and radar do not interfer each other.

The FlyRadar Antenna

The FlyRadar Antenna

PUBLICATIONS

Kereszturi, A., Ori, G.G., Marques, N.K.D., Grandjean, P., Allemand, P., Steinmann, V., Alberti, G., Mastrogiuseppe, M., Gurgurewicz, J., Kofman, W. and Mège, D., 2025. FlyRadar–targets for future drone based GPR survey on Mars. Acta Astronautica.

 The possibility and feasibility of future drone-based shallow subsurface GPR radar survey for Mars have been examined. SHARAD data indicates shallower features
are expected to be present, while HiRISE based analysis of outcrops confirm there are several target features, waiting for radar identification. Targets for an airborne
shallow subsurface radar were evaluated including ice content of indurated dunes, internal layering of fluvial deposits, mid- and high latitude ice containing features,
former crater lake sediments and lava caves; as well as expected dielectric constant values. The proposed instrument will be able to explore discontinuities in the underground to measure thickness, volume and stratigraphic sequence. Airborne GPR is expected to provide such information what is not achievable by rovers with limited traverse capability and inability of crossing several terrain types.
The radar penetration will be increased compared to those characteristics on the Earth by the low humidity expected in the Martian subsurface, while the iron-
oxides could decrease the signal with scattering effect and the normal attenuation due to imaginary part of dielectric constant. As radar signals are strongly affected
by the presence of liquid water that is very common of Earth, the FlyRadar instrument will be tested mostly in dry areas that are arid hot deserts, karsts or cold arid areas where water is frozen. The suggested trade off according to the geology of the investigated areas was found for the survey of the top 50 m of subsurface could be done at 20 MHz of bandwidth with 80 MHz of transmitted frequency. The mass of such an instrument could reach kilogram payload. The drone technology is available to do survey at 10 km scale distances, what neither an orbiter nor a surface rover could achieve, in order to support next missions for science and ISRU activities.

MEETINGS
EVENTS

V General Assembly Meeting

Online, September 2023

2nd Joint Collocation

Online, January 2023

Kick-Off Meeting

Online, March 2021

I General Assembly Meeting

Online, February 2021

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