Low-element FPGA beamforming: A ZCU102 demonstration of directed ultrasonic inspection

This paper presents the design and implementation of a compact FPGA-based (Field-Programmable Gate Array) controlled ultrasonic transducer system. Our aim was to achieve ultrasound beam steering using three elementary ultrasonic transducers. The transducers generated a steerable beam through ultrasound interference, which was controlled by adjusting the phase differences between them. The system’s performance was demonstrated using a radar-style beamforming plot. Using elementary transmitters with an initial aperture angle of 50°-130°, an effective aperture angle of 74°-101° was achieved. The core of the device was implemented on a ZCU102 development panel, which had a considerable impact on the following development phase. Our proposed approach offers a compact and cost-effective solution for Non-Destructive Testing (NDT) systems; its applicability was demonstrated on a wood inspection example. Finally, potential directions for further development toward a fully functional device are discussed.