Abstract: A reconfigurable ground penetrating radar (GPR) device, an autonomous GPR system and method of acquiring radar data about a medium. The GPR device includes a radar antenna with a first polarization, a processor unit connected to said antenna, a casing around the antenna and the processor unit, a wheel assembly including a holder, a wheel and a wheel rotation sensor. The wheel rotation sensor is connected to the processor unit and an axis of the wheel is pivotal relative to the first polarization.

Abstract: Method and system recording inspection data of an environment in scale drawing space. The method includes: receiving a sequence of images captured as a camera is moved along a camera path; generating an estimate of the camera path in sensor space based on the sequence of images; for a first image of the sequence, obtaining a first position in sensor space and receiving first input indicative of a first position of the camera in scale drawing space; for a second image of the sequence, obtaining a second position in sensor space and receiving second input indicative of a second position of the camera in scale drawing space; calculating transformation between sensor space and scale drawing space; receiving inspection data; and storing the inspection data with data of the inspection position in scale drawing space.

Abstract: GPR system and method for autonomously conducting a GPR survey of a subsurface bounded by a surface by a GPR device. The GPR device is mechanically connected to an autonomous robot. The method includes defining a survey path on the surface in a survey geometry; causing the robot to autonomously move along the survey path, thereby controlling a position of the GPR device; transmitting, via the GPR device, radar waves into the subsurface and recording their echoes as GPR data together with position data indicative of the position of the GPR device. The GPR system acquires GPR data of a subsurface bounded by a surface. The GPR system includes an autonomous robot, in particular with legs, and a GPR device, in particular which alternatively may be used as a stand-alone device.

Abstract: System and method for non-destructively testing a specimen by acoustic waves. The method includes: receiving from a testing device at a measurement position, in mechanical contact with the specimen, raw data representing acoustic waves that propagated through the specimen; providing options to process the raw data by at least a first and a second processing algorithm; processing the raw data by at least one of the first and the second processing algorithm. The first processing algorithm derives information about the specimen from multiple reflections of the acoustic waves. The second processing algorithm derives information about the specimen from a travel time of a single reflection of the acoustic waves. Further, the system includes a testing device having a housing, a contact element protruding from the housing and a cavity. An acoustic wave sensor mounted in the cavity.

Abstract: A reconfigurable GPR device for acquiring radar data about a medium includes a radar antenna with a first polarization, a processor unit connected to the antenna, and a casing around the antenna and the processor unit. Further the device includes at least one of a wheel assembly and a direction-determining unit. If present, the wheel assembly includes a holder, a wheel and a wheel rotation sensor. The wheel rotation sensor is connected to the processor unit, and an axis of the wheel is pivotal relative to the first polarization. If present, the direction-determining unit is connected to the processor unit and adapted to determine directional information. The directional information is descriptive of an angle between a direction of movement of the device and the first polarization.

Abstract: A reconfigurable ground penetrating radar (GPR) device, an autonomous GPR system and method of acquiring radar data about a medium. The GPR device includes a radar antenna with a first polarization, a processor unit connected to said antenna, a casing around the antenna and the processor unit, a wheel assembly including a holder, a wheel and a wheel rotation sensor. The wheel rotation sensor is connected to the processor unit and an axis of the wheel is pivotal relative to the first polarization.

Abstract: A ground-penetrating radar device comprises a frame, a radar antenna, and an antenna assembly, wherein the antenna is part of the antenna assembly. Further the GPR device comprises a mount for adaptively mounting the antenna assembly to the frame and a ground support for supporting the frame on the ground. In an operational state, the mount prevents a horizontal displacement of the antenna assembly relative to the frame in two horizontal directions. In the operational state, the mount further allows a vertical displacement of the antenna assembly relative to the frame and a tilting of the antenna assembly relative to the frame.

Abstract: A method and a device for probing a subsurface structure. The method includes sending an electromagnetic wave into the structure, receiving an echo of the electromagnetic wave from the structure and processing the echo for deriving an internal feature of the structure. The sending the electromagnetic wave into the structure includes subsequently sending a plurality of electromagnetic probe signals with differing frequency spectra into the structure. Each probe signal includes at least two non-zero spectral components. The receiving the echo includes receiving an echo signal for each probe signal. The processing the echo includes determining at least one amplitude and phase for each echo signal.

Abstract: A device for the non-destructive probing of a sample by means of electromagnetic wave reflection includes a metal body as part of its frame. The metal body forms a lateral wall and a separating wall enclosing an interior space. On a first side of the metal body, a shielding structure forms a plurality of shielded chambers for receiving RF circuitry. Interior space faces the second side of the metal body. A first circuit board containing driver and receiver circuitry is mounted to the first side of the metal body, and a second circuit board containing an antenna structure is mounted to the second side thereof.

Abstract: In order to accurately probe a structure of concrete, a series of probe signals with defined carrier frequencies are generated by a probe signal generator and coupled into the structure by an antenna. The returning echo signals are processed by an echo signal receiver. Processing includes phase and amplitude detection in a multiplier, frequency-specific scaling in a scaling unit, replacement of the measured phases and amplitudes in an interpolation unit, and the generation of time-domain data in a Fourier transformation module. The device is robust against RF noise, accurate and low-power.

Abstract: An apparatus for testing a component by ultrasound comprises a plurality of identical devices. Each device has several channels of ultrasonic transducers as well as a master controller. The individual devices are daisy-chained and controlled by one of their master controllers. Mechanical connectors can be used to mechanically couple adjacent devices. Further, a number of differently shaped handles is provided, all of which can be coupled to a common handle interface.

Abstract: A method and a device for testing a component by means of ultrasound is described. It is based on using transducers (4) for sending a probe signal into the component and monitoring its propagation. The response signals (C1 . . . C7) of the individual receivers are analyzed for the strength (A) of the arriving surface wave, and this strength (A) is used for scaling the response signals (C1 . . . C7). This allows to compensate for variations in the coupling strength between the various ultrasonic transducers {4}.

Abstract: A device for the non-destructive probing of a sample by means of electromagnetic wave reflection includes a metal body as part of its frame. The metal body forms a lateral wall and a separating wall enclosing an interior space. On a first side of the metal body, a shielding structure forms a plurality of shielded chambers for receiving RF circuitry. Interior space faces the second side of the metal body. A first circuit board containing driver and receiver circuitry is mounted to the first side of the metal body, and a second circuit board containing an antenna structure is mounted to the second side thereof.

Abstract: A reconfigurable GPR device for acquiring radar data about a medium includes a radar antenna with a first polarization, a processor unit connected to the antenna, and a casing around the antenna and the processor unit. Further the device includes at least one of a wheel assembly and a direction-determining unit. If present, the wheel assembly includes a holder, a wheel and a wheel rotation sensor. The wheel rotation sensor is connected to the processor unit, and an axis of the wheel is pivotal relative to the first polarization. If present, the direction-determining unit is connected to the processor unit and adapted to determine directional information. The directional information is descriptive of an angle between a direction of movement of the device and the first polarization.

Abstract: A quality value for a carbon ceramic brake disc (2) in a vehicle is measured by means of a measuring device (3) installed in the vehicle. The measuring device (3) with a coil (10) is located at a distance (d) from the brake disc (2) in order avoid direct physical contact with the brake disc. The impedance of the coil (10) is measured for at least two frequencies. The resulting measurement values that correlate to impedance values are introduced into a mathematical model in order to eliminate the dependence of the unknown distance (d) and to obtain a quality value dependent on the conductivity of the brake disc (2).

Abstract: In order to characterize electrically conducting and/or ferromagnetic objects, such as rebars, in concrete, a device is rolled along a surface of the sample. The device comprises e.g. two rows (10.1, 10.2) of partially overlapping sending coils (6) and receiving coils (7). Each pair of attributed sending and receiving coils (6, 7) is designed to have reduced mutual impedance in the absence of any electrically conducting and/or ferromagnetic object. The complex value, e.g. the phase and absolute value, of the mutual impedances are measured in order to determine a number of parameters (size, position and coverage of the object with concrete) of the objects.

Abstract: In order to accurately probe a structure of concrete, a series of probe signals with defined carrier frequencies are generated by a probe signal generator and coupled into the structure by an antenna. The returning echo signals are processed by an echo signal receiver. Processing includes phase and amplitude detection in a multiplier, frequency-specific scaling in a scaling unit, replacement of the measured phases and amplitudes in an interpolation unit, and the generation of time-domain data in a Fourier transformation module. The device is robust against RF noise, accurate and low-power.

Abstract: An apparatus for testing a component by ultrasound comprises a plurality of identical devices. Each device has several channels of ultrasonic transducers as well as a master controller. The individual devices are daisy-chained and controlled by one of their master controllers. Mechanical connectors can be used to mechanically couple adjacent devices. Further, a number of differently shaped handles is provided, all of which can be coupled to a common handle interface.

Abstract: A quality value for a carbon ceramic brake disc (2) in a vehicle is measured by means of a measuring device (3) installed in the vehicle. The measuring device (3) with a coil (10) is located at a distance (d) from the brake disc (2) in order avoid direct physical contact with the brake disc. The impedance of the coil (10) is measured for at least two frequencies. The resulting measurement values that correlate to impedance values are introduced into a mathematical model in order to eliminate the dependence of the unknown distance (d) and to obtain a quality value dependent on the conductivity of the brake disc (2).

Abstract: The device for the impedance-based probing of materials described herein comprises a two-dimensional array of coils (1) and a measurement unit (4) adapted to determine, for each coil (1), a parameter indicative of its impedance. A pulse generator (3) is able to generate current pulses in each coil (1). The circuitry drives and senses the coil array through row and column lines (rp1 . . . rpN1, cp1 . . . cpN2, c21 . . . csN2) in order to minimize the number of required components. The device can, in particular, be used for probing concrete.