Diagram showing the face of the "three-pointer" sensitive aircraft altimeter displaying analtitude of 10,180 ft (3,100 m). Reference pressure of about 29.92inHg (1013 hPa) is showing in theKollsman window
Analtimeter or analtitude meter is an instrument used to measure thealtitude of an object above a fixed level.[1] The measurement of altitude is calledaltimetry, which is related to the termbathymetry, the measurement of depth under water.
Digital barometric pressure sensor for altitude measurement in consumer electronic applicationsAltitude can be determined based on the measurement ofatmospheric pressure. The greater the altitude, the lower the pressure. When abarometer is supplied with a nonlinear calibration so as to indicate altitude, the instrument is a type of altimeter called apressure altimeter or barometric altimeter. A pressure altimeter is the altimeter found in mostaircraft, and skydivers use wrist-mounted versions for similar purposes. Hikers and mountain climbers use wrist-mounted or hand-held altimeters, in addition to other navigational tools such as a map, magnetic compass, or GPS receiver.
In 1931, the US Army Air Corps and General Electric tested asonic altimeter for aircraft, which was considered more reliable and accurate than one that relied on air pressure when heavy fog or rain was present. The new altimeter used a series of high-pitched sounds like those made by a bat to measure the distance from the aircraft to the surface, which on return to the aircraft was converted to feet shown on a gauge inside the aircraft cockpit.[2]
The altimeter on thisPiper PA-28 is seen on the top row of instruments, second from right
Aradar altimeter measures altitude more directly, using the time taken for a radio signal to reflect from the surface back to the aircraft. Alternatively, Frequency Modulated Continuous-wave radar can be used. The greater the frequency shift the further the distance travelled. This method can achieve much better accuracy than the pulsed radar for the same outlay and radar altimeters that use frequency modulation are industry standard. The radar altimeter is used to measure height above ground level during landing in commercial and military aircraft. Radar altimeters are also a component of terrain avoidance warning systems, warning the pilot if the aircraft is flying too low, or if there is rising terrain ahead. Radar altimeter technology is also used interrain-following radar allowingcombat aircraft to fly at very low height above the terrain.
After extensive research and experimentation, it has been shown that "phase radio-altimeters" are most suitable forground effect vehicles, as compared to laser, isotropic or ultrasonic altimeters.[3]
Lidar technology is used to help navigate thehelicopter Ingenuity on its record-setting flights over the terrain ofMars by means of a downward-facing Lidar altimeter.[4]
Global Positioning System (GPS) receivers can also determine altitude bytrilateration with four or moresatellites. In aircraft, altitude determined using autonomous GPS is not reliable enough to supersede the pressure altimeter without using some method ofaugmentation.[5] In hiking and climbing, it is common to find that the altitude measured by GPS is off by as much as 400 feet (122 metres) depending on satellite orientation.[6]
^Nebylov, Prof. Alexander and Sharan Sukrit."Comparative Analysis Of Design Variants For Low Altitude Flight Parameters Measuring System".17th IFAC Symposium for Automatic Control.
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