History
Radar Systems, Inc. was established in 1989 on the basis of Aviation Subsurface Radiolocation Problem Laboratory (ASRPL), Riga Aviation University (RAU), to become ASRPL's legal successor in research and development for subsurface sounding techniques, hardware and software used to solve tasks of nondestructive environmental monitoring, engineering geological surveys, thickness measurements of sea and fresh water ice, etc.
ASRPL was established in 1977 by resolution of the State Science and Technology Committee to conduct research studies started in 1968 at Radiolocation Chair, Riga Civil Aviation Engineering Institute (RCAEI), headed by Professor M.Finkelshtein, Doctor of Technology. Works by ASRPL gained broad recognition and appreciation quite soon. As a result, in 1984, three research fellows of Radiolocation Chair and ASRPL received the USSR State Award for development and introduction of ice measurement techniques and devices.
Along with sea ice measurement studies, ASRPL was active with research and development of earth cover sounding techniques and devices for geological engineering surveys. These studies were crowned with development of a number of georadar series "Zond", "Louch", and "Profile". Currently, two types of georadars are manufactured, namely "Zond-12c" (versatile and multifunctional unit) and "Python-02" (abyssal georadar). The latter is a land analogue of the space radar used for subsurface soil sounding of Mars (Project Mars-96) and designed by Radar Systems, Inc. researchers in close cooperation with their colleagues from National Space Agency of France (CNES) and Service d'Aeronomie Institute (France).
Radar Systems, Inc. has long-term traditions of developing of space-oriented instrumentation. Thus, specialists of ASRPL and Radiolocation Chair together with their counterparts from the Academy of Sciences Research Institute for Radio Engineering and Electronics designed a complex radiolocation unit used for sounding survey of Phobos (satellite of Mars).
Our Company is a regular participant at various scientific conferences on subsurface sounding and nondestructive environmental monitoring. For instance, "Zond-12" and "Zond-12c" equipment was shown in technical expositions at Conferences GPR'94 (Kitchener, Ontario, Canada; June 12-16, 1994) and GPR'98 (Lawrence, Kansas, USA; May 27-30, 1998) and was operated successfully in field demo tests at the a/m Conferences.
Personnel of our Company are working consistently on enhancing performance and applications of the equipment made. Currently, development of "Zond-14", a versatile multichannel georadar, has reached its completion stage; new borehole antennas for "Zond-12c" georadars are underway.
Up to recent time, Radar Systems, Inc. was developing and manufacturing subsurface sounding equipment only. Now, our Company supports series production of electronic firmware for check-in counters used at airports.
Moreover, our Company receives special orders for development and manufacture of various nonstandard units.
We are always ready and willing to cooperate with you!
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The year of 1980. Field tests of "Zond-1" georadar, the first one of "Zond" series. The equipment assembly was made using transistors and radio valves; it had considerable overall dimensions and weight and therefore was installed in a truck body. The flat antenna system was dragged by a rope on the ground surface. Sounding data were recorded as a density profile on a film and were also displayed as a trace on a CRT screen. |
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This was the way subsurface signals were displayed on "Zond-1" georadar CRT screen. |
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The year of 1983. "Zond-4" georadar central unit. Traces were displayed on a CRT screen; analogue data recording was done on a magnetic cassette. Sounding frequencies: 50 and 100 MHz. |
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The year of 1988. "Zond-8" georadar. Its central unit is shown in the center, recorder is to the right, 120 MHz antenna system to the left, and battery in the rear. Data recording was done again on a magnetic cassette. The recorder was used in the field for profile output onto heat-sensitive paper. |
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The year of 1988. Radiolocation profile (bottom) obtained using "Zond-8" georadar. Top display shows the structure (section) of the environment sounded. Printout was made on heat-sensitive paper roll using a recorder. |
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The year of 1989. "Louch-2" georadar onboard "Mi-8" helicopter. Box antennas seen on helicopter sides. Sounding frequency: 50 MHz. Two-channel receiver. The unit already used the aperture real-time focusing technique. Data recorded using a digital two-channel tape recorder. |
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The year of 1991. "Zond-10" georadar set. The following items are positioned below the dipole antenna (from left to right): battery, cable bundle, charger/power supply, heat-sensitive paper roll recorder, central unit. Microphone fitting used for service information speech recording on a cassette is shown to the right from the central unit. The same cassette was used to record sounding data for subsequent computer input. |
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P.O. Box 3600 Haines City, Florida 33845 USA
Phone: 863-422-5454 - Fax: 863-421-4600 E-mail: omnitron@gate.net