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November 25th, 2025
SPH Engineering Expands UAV GPR Portfolio with MALÅ GeoDrone 600 and Zond Aero 600 NG

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High-resolution 600 MHz drone-based GPR antennas extend subsurface mapping capabilities for engineering, geology, and utility detection

Riga, Latvia — November 25, 2025. SPH Engineering announces the availability of two new ground-penetrating radar systems optimized for UAV integration: MALÅ GeoDrone 600 and Zond Aero 600 NG.

Both 600 MHz antennas significantly enhance high-resolution subsurface investigations with drones, supporting applications in engineering surveys, utility mapping, archaeology, environmental studies, and geophysical research.

With the addition of these two sensors, SPH Engineering strengthens its position as the leading provider of drone-based GPR solutions, enabling surveyors to capture consistent, high-quality subsurface data in areas difficult, slow, or unsafe to access with traditional ground instruments.

Expanding High-Resolution Subsurface Mapping From the Air

Operating at 600 MHz, both antennas offer an effective balance between penetration depth and fine near-surface resolution.

Typical penetration from the drone is up to 2 meters, depending on the surface conditions, while SPH Engineering’s True Terrain Following ensures stable antenna height to maintain data quality and repeatability.

Compared to ground-based carts or vehicle systems, the UAV-borne configuration enables operators to:

  • Survey rocky, uneven, vegetated, or steep terrain
  • Achieve consistent grid spacing and uniform antenna coupling
  • Cover large areas significantly faster than manual GPR methods
  • Improve safety by reducing personnel exposure in risky field conditions

MALÅ GeoDrone 600
A compact, professional GPR antenna optimized for precise UAV operations

The MALÅ GeoDrone 600 combines the reliability of MALÅ instrumentation with SPH Engineering’s fully integrated drone workflow. Designed for precision engineering, utility detection, and geophysical mapping, the antenna produces clear, high-quality radargrams suitable for detailed structural assessment and shallow subsurface characterization.

Key Specifications

  • Central frequency: 600 MHz
  • Operating Bandwidth: 250-900 MHz
  • Typical penetration: up to 2 m (soil-dependent)
  • Sampling: MALÅ HDR technology
  • Antenna design: Shielded
  • Weight:7 kg

Zond Aero 600 NG
Next-generation 600 MHz GPR with enhanced penetration and signal-to-noise ratio

The Zond Aero 600 NG is a next-generation shielded antenna designed specifically for airborne GPR operations.

It offers a strong signal-to-noise ratio, improved ground coupling at low altitudes, and robust performance over natural terrain—making it particularly suitable for geophysical research, archaeology, and environmental geoscience.

Key Specifications

  • Central frequency: 600 MHz
  • Operating Bandwidth: 300-950 MHz (-12 dB)
  • Typical penetration: up to 2 m (soil-dependent)
  • Sampling: Real-Time Sampling (RTS) with high hardware stacking
  • Antenna type: Shielded
  • Weight:7 kg

Seamless Integration with UgCS & SkyHub

Both antennas are fully compatible with SPH Engineering’s UgCS flight planning software and the SkyHub drone onboard computer, enabling:

  • Automated terrain-following flights over complex topography
  • Precise altitude control for optimal GPR signal geometry
  • Synchronized GNSS + radar trace logging (for Zond Aero 600, MALÅ GeoDrone 600 has build-in data recorder)

Expert Commentary

“Adding the MALÅ GeoDrone 600 and the Zond Aero 600 NG to our UAV-GPR portfolio reflects the rapid industry demand for drone-based subsurface mapping,” said Alexey Dobrovolskiy, CEO of SPH Engineering.

“Surveyors, engineers, and researchers can now choose between two high-performance 600 MHz antennas depending on their project requirements. Our goal is to deliver a complete, reliable workflow—from flight automation to secure data logging—that transforms how near-surface geophysics is conducted.”

Technical Highlights

  • Frequency: 600 MHz
  • Deployment platform: DJI M300/M350/M400, Pixhawk/Cube-based UAVs (e.g., Inspired Flight IF1200A, Harris H6)
  • Antenna type: Shielded, UAV-optimized
  • Penetration: Up to 2 meters in average normal soil with 100ns time range
  • Compatible software: UgCS + SkyHub (standard), industry GPR processing tools
  • Automation: True Terrain Following

About SPH Engineering

SPH Engineering is an expert in drone technology development, providing UAV software solutions, integration services, and custom development to advance drone applications for surveying, data collection and processing, and entertainment. Founded in 2013 in Latvia, SPH Engineering has a global customer and partner network in over 150 countries.

Contact:
SPH Engineering
[email protected]
www.sphengineering.com