The smartmicro Drone Altimeter (UMRR-11 Type 132) is a 76–77 GHz radar altimeter for small UAVs. It measures true height above ground up to 175 m, switches automatically between a long-range and a medium-range mode, and works plug-and-play with PX4 and ArduPilot autopilots over DroneCAN.

At 274 g and 3.75–5 W it suits tight SWaP budgets. The IP67 housing is rated for -40 to +85 °C, and the sensor can be mounted inside the fuselage behind a flat, radar-transparent plastic panel. It is made in Germany, ITAR-free and available in high volume for series production.

Why Choose the Drone Altimeter?

• Measures 1.0 to 175 m in long-range mode and 0.5 to 64 m in medium-range mode

• Automatic mode selection for consistent altitude between 2 and 175 m

• DroneCAN over CAN 2.0B at 1 Mbit/s, plug-and-play with PX4 and ArduPilot

• 274 g, 94.7 × 84.4 × 26.4 mm and 3.75–5 W for SWaP-constrained drones

• Reliable in fog, dust and darkness and over water, where optical and barometric sensors struggle

• IP67, -40 to +85 °C, 100 grms shock and 14 grms vibration

• Made in Germany, ITAR-free, in the 76–77 GHz band approved in Europe

What Is the Drone Altimeter Used For?

Typical applications of the Drone Altimeter include:

• Industrial UAVs for inspection and survey

• Small UAVs and MAVs with tight weight budgets

• Precision landing, hover hold and terrain following

• Flight in GNSS-denied or low-visibility conditions

• Helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft needing low-level altitude awareness

Customisation Options

For series projects smartmicro can adapt the sensor, for example:

• Housing, connectors and weight optimisation

• Conformal integration into the aircraft

• Additional Ethernet or RS485 interfaces and protocols

• Adjustable altitude and speed limits, frequency agility and duty-cycle optimisation

• Raw radar data output and maximum altitude extended to 500 m

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Drone Altimeter?

The Drone Altimeter is smartmicro’s 76–77 GHz radar altimeter for small UAVs. It measures height above ground up to 175 m, weighs 274 g, draws 3.75–5 W and reports altitude to PX4 and ArduPilot autopilots over DroneCAN.

Why use a radar altimeter like the Drone Altimeter instead of barometric or GPS altitude?

A radar altimeter measures true height above ground level directly, unaffected by air-pressure drift or GNSS vertical error. That makes the Drone Altimeter the reliable choice for landing, hover and terrain-following phases of flight.

Does the Drone Altimeter work with PX4 and ArduPilot?

Yes. It communicates over CAN 2.0B at 1 Mbit/s using the DroneCAN protocol, appears as a range finder, and works plug-and-play with PX4 and ArduPilot based systems. Altitude is sent every 55 ms, 18.2 times per second.

How should the Drone Altimeter be mounted?

With the black radome facing down and parallel to the ground in normal flight, and the TOP arrow pointing along or against the direction of flight. It can sit behind flat, radar-transparent plastic, but carbon, epoxy resin or metal will block the signal. The reading is perpendicular to the radome, so the autopilot should correct it for pitch and roll.

How does the Drone Altimeter compare with the Micro Radar Altimeter?

The Drone Altimeter uses 76–77 GHz, reaches 175 m, weighs 274 g and connects to PX4 and ArduPilot over DroneCAN, which suits small UAVs. smartmicro’s Micro Radar Altimeter uses 24 GHz and reaches 500 m, which suits helicopters, fixed-wing aircraft and larger UAVs.

Where is the Drone Altimeter available?

The Drone Altimeter is available through Leo Drive in the following region: Türkiye. For other regions, please contact Leo Drive.

How can I get the datasheet and technical documents for the Drone Altimeter?

The preliminary datasheet for the Drone Altimeter is attached to this page. Please contact Leo Drive for the user manual, cable sets and integration support.

Explore More at Leo Drive

The Drone 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.