Software defined radio for stepped-frequency, ground-penetrating radar

Software defined radio (SDR) is a rapidly developing technology that implements signal processing components partially or completely in software. In this paper, SDR's potential as a platform for ground-penetrating radar (GPR) is explored. The stepped-frequency radar method is implemented using off-the-shelf SDR hardware and open-source software. SDR is typically designed for communications applications, so special consideration is necessary for remote sensing. Precisely timed commands achieve RF phase coherence as well as digital sample synchronization. A multi-tone digital signal takes advantage of instantaneous bandwidth, and a sequential tuning routine expands effective bandwidth to cover the 500-5000 MHz band. Initial design challenges are weighed against potential advantages of design flexibility and hardware versatility.