Abstract: A prodder with force feedback for detecting an object buried beneath the ground is disclosed. A probe is provided including a rod having a prodding end for prodding the object, there is also a transducer coupled to a non-prodding end of the rod for providing an acoustic wave to the object and for receiving acoustic waves reflected from the object. The housing has a first cavity containing a fluid and for supporting the probe such that the volume of the fluid within the first cavity is affected by the pressure applied to the prodding end of the rod. A force sensor is fluidly coupled to the first cavity for determining the change in pressure of a fluid within the first cavity. An electronics module is processing data related to the reflected waves, and to the change in the pressure of the fluid, and is providing data in order to compare the processed data with the stored value representing the characteristics of known materials.