smartmicro Micro Radar Altimeter
24 GHz Radar Altimeter — 0.5 to 500 m True Height Above Ground
The smartmicro Micro Radar Altimeter is a compact 24 GHz radar sensor that measures true height above ground for aircraft and UAV platforms. It delivers reliable altitude data from 0.5 m to 500 m in conditions that defeat optical and barometric sensors — fog, dust, snow, darkness and flight over water — with a height accuracy of 3% or 0.5 m, whichever is greater.
Weighing 350 g in a watertight 99 × 110 × 29 mm housing and drawing only 3.7 W, the altimeter mounts on the aircraft belly and can even operate behind non-conductive materials for conformal installation. It remains accurate at pitch and roll angles up to ±20°, vertical speeds to 50 m/s and forward speeds to 100 m/s, and its ≤ 17 ms update cycle supports low-level and dynamic flight.
Micro Radar Altimeter Technical Specifications
Operating frequency | 24.0…24.25 GHz |
Minimum height | 0.5 m |
Maximum height | 500 m |
Height accuracy | 3% or 0.5 m (maximum of) | 3% or 1.64 ft |
Supported pitch and roll angles | -20…+20° |
Maximum vertical speed | 50 m/s |
Maximum forward speed | 75 or 100 m/s |
Update cycle time | ≤ 17 ms |
Power consumption | 3.7 W |
Max. transmit power (EIRP) | 17 dBm |
Connector | 8-pin plug, Binder Series 712 on 0.5 m cable |
Weight | 350 g (incl. 0.5 m cable and connector) |
Dimensions (H × W × D) | 99 × 110 × 29 mm | 3.9 × 4.3 × 1.1 in |
Why Choose the Micro Radar Altimeter?
True height above ground — radar measures actual clearance, unaffected by air-pressure drift or GNSS vertical error.
All-condition operation — works in fog, dust, snow and darkness, and over water where optical sensors fail.
0.5 to 500 m range — covers everything from hover and landing to low-level cruise.
Compact and light — 350 g and 99 × 110 × 29 mm, suited to SWaP-constrained platforms.
Low power draw — 3.7 W consumption for extended endurance.
Flexible installation — belly-mountable and able to operate behind non-conductive covers.
Maintenance-free — no optical or contact-based parts; a robust watertight housing built for vibration, shock and temperature variation.
Stable in dynamic flight — accurate at ±20° pitch and roll, 50 m/s vertical and up to 100 m/s forward speed.
What Is the Micro Radar Altimeter Used For?
Typical applications of the smartmicro Micro Radar Altimeter include:
Industrial UAVs for inspection and survey work requiring precise altitude sensing
Small UAVs and MAVs where weight and power budgets are tight
Helicopters needing reliable altitude awareness during low-level flight
Fixed-wing aircraft operating at high forward speeds
Automated landing, hover and terrain-following control
Flight over water, snow and other surfaces that defeat optical altimeters
Available Regions
Turkey
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the smartmicro Micro Radar Altimeter?
The smartmicro Micro Radar Altimeter is a compact 24 GHz radar altimeter that measures true height above ground from 0.5 m to 500 m for aircraft and UAV platforms. It weighs 350 g, draws 3.7 W and provides height accuracy of 3% or 0.5 m, whichever is greater.
Why use a radar altimeter instead of a barometric or GNSS altitude source?
Barometric altimeters drift with air pressure and GNSS gives altitude above an ellipsoid, not above the terrain below you. A radar altimeter measures the actual clearance between aircraft and ground, which is what matters for landing, hover and terrain following.
Does it work over water, in fog or at night?
Yes. Radar is independent of lighting and visibility, so the Micro Radar Altimeter operates in fog, dust, snow and darkness, and works over water where optical sensors typically fail.
Can the altimeter be installed behind a fairing or skin panel?
Yes. It is designed for belly mounting and can operate behind non-conductive materials, which allows conformal installation without exposing the sensor face.
What are the speed and attitude limits?
The sensor supports pitch and roll angles from -20° to +20°, vertical speeds up to 50 m/s and forward speeds of 75 or 100 m/s depending on configuration, with an update cycle time of 17 ms or less.
How does it compare with the smartmicro Drone Altimeter?
The Micro Radar Altimeter operates at 24 GHz and reaches 500 m, suiting helicopters, fixed-wing aircraft and larger UAVs. The smartmicro Drone Altimeter operates at 76–77 GHz, reaches 175 m and is lighter at 274 g with DroneCAN and PX4/ArduPilot integration for small UAVs.
How can I get the datasheet and technical documents for the Micro Radar Altimeter?
The data sheet and product sheet are available on the manufacturer’s website. You can also contact Leo Drive for documentation, pricing and integration support.
Explore More at Leo Drive
The Micro Radar Altimeter is part of the Radar Altimeters range at Leo Drive. Browse all autonomous vehicle sensors and components, or talk to our engineering team about integration in your project.
