Ainstein discusses the benefits of using its US-D1 radar altimeter in reconnaissance and surveillance, covering key benefits, applications, and how the US-D1 works.
The US-D1 radar altimeter is ideal for providing high-precision, real-time altitude readouts to industrial and tactical UAVs. It has become the gold standard for drones performing VTOL due to its unmatched effectiveness in enabling efficient, reliable, and safe transitions.
Key benefits of the US-D1:
- Rapid, real-time data (100 Hz refresh rate)
- Small size (108 x 79 x 20mm)
- Lightweight (110g)
- Simple and easy setup (Ardupilot and PX4 ready)
- Ideal for autonomous take-off and landing (0.3m-50m operating range)
The US-D1 is particularly suitable for surveillance and intelligence drone manufacturers, lightweight fixed-wing tactical UAS, and other VTOL drone applications.
There are several reasons to use a radar altimeter. It allows for high-fidelity UAV terrain-following. Radar altimeters are more effective than laser altimeters over water. Additionally, unlike GPS, radar altimeters can account for varied terrain.
The US-D1 is designed to work seamlessly with your UAV. It comes packaged with either a Molex 4POS 2.54MM or JST_GHR-04V-S connector for easy connection to the serial port of a UAV’s flight controller. The device can be mounted anywhere on the underside of the UAV frame where it has a clear field of view, even in the foot or landing gear due to its small size. An STP file for the US-D1 is available on its product page to assist with integration.
For UAVs using Ardupilot or PX4 software, users need to set the necessary parameters for the US-D1 and reboot the flight controller. After this, the sensor will be ready for operation on the drone. It is recommended to perform manual VTOL maneuvers to validate that the US-D1 data is correct. Following validation, users can begin test flights with autonomous VTOL enabled, using the input from the US-D1 to ensure precision takeoff and landing.
