UAV-based GPR prototype for structural monitoring of bridges: preliminary results and perspectives

Structural Health Monitoring (SHM) is a challenging task requiring novel inspection paradigms and methodological tools devoted to support effective and timely mainte-nance actions. In this context, non-destructive technologies (NDTs) turn out to be of paramount importance and Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) is worthyof consid-eration for on-demand, high-resolution, subsurface surveys. Although GPR is an assessed technology, commercially available systems mainly work close to the structure under test, and those suitable to be mounted on moving platforms are hard to be used for the inspection of verticalstructures. In this frame, mini-Un-mannedAerial Vehicles (UAVs)equipped with radar systems are worthyof consid-eration because of their potentialadvantages interms of versatility. This paper deals with the design of a compact mini-drone-based radarprototypefor contactless im-agingof elongated, horizontal and vertical structures.Herein, the design guidelines are discussed qualitativelyand the assembled prototype is presented.Moreover, a performance analysis is provided by accounting for simulated data andpreliminary experiments carried out in controlled conditions.Conclusionsanalyze challenges and perspectives.