SPH Engineering expands UAV ground-penetrating radar lineup with two 600 MHz antennas
SPH Engineering has added two 600 MHz ground-penetrating radar antennas for drones, targeting high-resolution subsurface mapping. The new systems, the MALÅ GeoDrone 600 and the Zond Aero 600 NG, are designed for engineering surveys, utility detection, archaeology, environmental work, and geophysical research where ground-based carts are slow, difficult, or unsafe to use.
Both antennas operate at a 600 MHz central frequency, a range chosen to balance near-surface detail with penetration depth. From a UAV platform, typical penetration reaches up to 2 meters, depending on soil conditions. SPH Engineering said its True Terrain Following function keeps antenna height stable over uneven ground, supporting more consistent data quality and repeatable results during standard grid and profile flights.
The MALÅ GeoDrone 600 is a shielded 2.7 kg antenna using MALÅ HDR sampling technology and a 250–900 MHz operating bandwidth. It is aimed at precision engineering, utility mapping, and shallow structural assessment, producing radargrams for near-surface characterization. The Zond Aero 600 NG is a lighter 1.7 kg shielded antenna with a 300–950 MHz bandwidth at -12 dB. It uses Real-Time Sampling and high hardware stacking to improve signal-to-noise ratio and ground coupling at low altitude, making it better suited to geophysical and environmental investigations.
Both sensors integrate with SPH Engineering’s UgCS flight planning software and SkyHub onboard computer. That allows automated terrain-following missions, precise altitude control, and synchronized logging of GNSS data and radar traces. Supported platforms include DJI’s M300, M350, and M400, as well as Pixhawk- or Cube-based UAVs such as the Inspired Flight IF1200A and Harris H6. The expansion strengthens SPH Engineering’s broader push to offer a full drone GPR workflow rather than standalone hardware.
The new 600 MHz options give surveyors, engineers, and researchers more flexibility in matching payloads to mission needs. That could widen the use of drone-borne GPR for shallow subsurface work, especially in areas where faster deployment, safer access, and repeatable data collection matter most.