Radar Sensors for UAVs and Drones: Accessible, Scalable and Reliable

Radar Altimeters for UAVs

The advantages of drone radar altimeters

While radar and LiDAR have some similarities, radar technology provides a number of crucial advantages for altitude sensing in environments commonly experienced by drones and robotic vehicles.

• Radar can function in heavy rain, snow, and fog without experiencing any loss in performance
• Radar is highly suited for applications where large bodies of water are present, whereas LiDAR signals are absorbed
• Radar offers superior performance in the presence of bushes, tree canopies and heavy vegetation, compared to standard LiDAR

Radar also outperforms vision-based technologies in several key areas.

Learn more: Radar altimeters for UAVs

US-D1

Compact all-weather radar altimeter for UAVs

The US-D1 is a lightweight and compact airborne radar altimeter that provides reliable measurements at distances of up to 50 meters. Providing robust all-weather operations during the day or night, it is ideal for applications such as cargo delivery, agricultural spraying, and low-altitude surveying and landing.

The low-SWaP device features an intuitive plug-and-play operation, with no calibration required for PX4/Pixhawk platforms. The unit counts with FCC, CE, and IP67 certifications.

Learn more: US-D1 all-weather radar altimeter

LR-D1

Long-range radar altimeter for commercial, industrial & tactical drones

The LR-D1 is a radar altimeter that delivers reliable and accurate data even in low visibility and the harshest of weather conditions. Featuring a rugged enclosure, it is designed to be used at distances of up to 500 metres.

The heavy-duty airborne altimeter is designed for large and high-speed UAVs, and is ideal for autonomous takeoff and landing requirements as well as industrial and tactical applications including cargo delivery, geophysical surveying, and tactical targets or target drones.

Learn more: LR-D1 UAV Long-Range Radar Altimeter

LR-D1 Pro

Dual-band radar altimeter for larger VTOL drones

The LR-D1 Pro is an advanced version of our LR-D1 altimeter platform, utilizing two antennas  (24GHz and 60 GHz) and sophisticated sensor fusion to provide centimeter-level altitude measurement precision for the most critical of applications.

The rugged sensor is built to withstand heavy-duty industrial conditions, and is highly suited to operations at high speed and with high levels of shock and vibration. It is ideal for larger VTOL drones and unmanned helicopters, and industrial and tactical applications requiring the utmost in precision. Available in UART, CAN, 422, and 232 interfaces for compatibility with any project

Learn more: LR-D1 Pro Dual-band radar altimeter

Product comparison

	US-D1	LR-D1	LR-D1 Pro
Frequency Band	24 GHz	24 GHz	24 GHz, 60 GHz
Bandwidth	190 MHz	250 MHz	250 MHz
Power Consumption	2W (at 5 Volts DC input)	11W	<13W
Supply Voltage	5V~13V DC (5.5V recommended)	10 – 30 V	10 – 30 V
Altitude Range	0.5m – 50m	0.7m – 500m	0.30m – 500m
Altitude Precision	6.0cm (< 1m), 4.0cm (> 1m)	0.365m	0.075m (<5m), 0.364m (>5m)
Update Rate	100 Hz	40 Hz	40 Hz
Field of View	­43 ° x 30 °	43° Azimuth 30° Elevation	43° Azimuth 30° Elevation
Operational Temperature Range	-20 °C ~ 65 °C*	-40°C ~ +60°C	-40°C – 70°C
Size	108mm x 79mm x 20mm	112mm x 102.5mm x 29mm	148mm x 134mm x 35mm
Weight	110g	300g	634g
Environmental Conditions	IP67 (with sealant)	IP67	IP67
Interface	UART, CAN	RS-232, RS-422	CAN, RS-232, RS-422

Imaging & Detection Radar for Self-Driving & Autonomous Vehicles

O-79

Imaging radar for autonomous vehicles

The O-79 is a compact imaging radar that offers LiDAR-like image quality and excellent accuracy, providing superior obstacle identification and avoidance capabilities for autonomous and self-driving vehicles such as lawn mowers, street sweepers and construction equipment.

Delivering consistent performance no matter the weather or lighting conditions, the O-79 enables accurate target classification and is capable of distinguishing between vehicles and pedestrians.

Learn more: O-79 Imaging radar for autonomous vehicles

T-79

Short-range safety radar for autonomous vehicles

The T-79 is a high-resolution automotive safety radar designed to provide short-range situational awareness that enhances safety for semi- and fully-autonomous vehicles. Built on RF-CMOS IC technology, it features ultra-low power consumption at a low unit cost.

Multiple sensors can be configured together to provide high-resolution 360° detection under all weather and lighting conditions, enabling advanced applications such as parking assistance, lane change assistance and cyclist and pedestrian detection.

Learn more: T-7 Short-range safety radar for autonomous vehicles

Applications